Pan Tumaca, a meal to die for

I remember my first trip to Spain. My boyfriend, now hubby, took me on a romantic trip to the south, which I’ll never forget. I remember wandering through the streets of Sevilla at nine o’ clock in the morning starving! No restaurants or cafeterias or bars were open. Question: Why o why is nothing open if breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Answer: The Spanish are not the earliest risers in the world. They like to eat late and they like to keep their first meal small since pre-lunch tapas are around the corner and pretty soon two o’ clock will creep up on you, time for lunch.

We finally discovered a small bar on a narrow street going up to the Cathedral that was open for breakfast and their menu was orange juice or coffee with pan tumaca. Huh? Come again…

Well it turns out that pan tumaca or "tostada con tomate" is an all natural and classic Spanish breakfast. It consists of ripe, red tomatoes picked fresh. They are blended with olive oil, fresh garlic, a touch of salt, and nothing else. You spread this mixture on a toast or toasted baguette and that’s it. Fresh, zesty and healthy!

Now, don’t get me wrong. This dish is not found throughout Spain. As a matter of fact, I went to Burgos this summer and when I asked for pan tumaca, they frowned and said all they had was a "tostada con aceite", a toast with olive oil, not the same. It was blah, no taste whatsoever.

I remember reading a news article about a year ago of a top Spanish chef dying while showing his new restaurant to food critics. He had shared with them a dish of pan tumaca as an appetizer. Wouldn’t mind having this as my last supper.

Santi Santamaria's last supper: pan tumaca