h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have lived in Spain for about 11 years and one of the many things I have come to love here is the Spanish breakfast.

Which is - toast.

Let me explain.

At my usual breakfast bar, for prices varying between 1.50-2.80 euros you can get coffee and toast.

What's the big deal? Well, first of all the coffee is wonderful and there are about 15 different sorts of bread to choose from for your toast.

And once you have chosen your bread then you decide on what you will have on your toast:

- butter
- margarine
- butter and jam
- olive oil
- olive oil and tomato
- olive oil, tomato and jamon serrano
- jamon serrano with either butter or olive oil
- cooked ham
- ham and cheese
- manchego cheese
- pringa (as sort of mix of various sausage meats)
- blood sausage
- manteca (don't ask!)
- sliced chicken breast
- brie cheese
- lomo de jerez (rolled loin of pork cooked with spices)
- pate
- smoked salmon
- chorizo
- tortilla

. . . and oh gosh, I just can't remember more at the moment, but there are more options.

And all the while, you are standing at a lovely wooden bar and the barmen are running around like mad, but very cheerfully bantering amongst each other and with the customers. It is truly a wonderful way to start one's day. As much for the very cheap and good toast and coffee as for the very human and charming ambiance.

Man, I miss Spanish breakfast. The last time I was in Spain (about a year and a half ago), I was with a friend who had never been. When she asked where we were going to eat breakfast, I said we'd find a bar and order tortilla. She stared at me, "A BAR?" hee It was great fun to see her reaction.

Of course another typical Spanish breakfast I forgot to mention was churros and chocolate - though people don't tend to eat this every day.

Perhaps I should have called the subject Spanish breakfasts and not Toast.

Churros and chocolate are wonderful at 9 in the morning, New Year's Day, after you've been dancing and drinking in the plaza all night.

Toast makes a wonderful breakfast - personally I think it has to be white but opinions differ. The choice of toppings is endless - personally dark maramalade, hot buttered, lemon curd or Marmite are my preferences but the world is your oyster.