The Best Spanish Restaurants in Yonge & Bloor, Toronto, Ontario

Spanish cuisine is just as variable as Spanish geography, drawing influences from coastal, interior and mountainous regions. Spanish cuisine bears similarities to both Greek and French culinary styles, incorporating herbs and spices for flavourings while drawing heavily from locally sourced ingredients. Contemporary Spanish cooking strongly utilizes ingredients of the new world, such as tomato, cucumber, peppers, paprika and cocoa. These products were brought back to Spain by early visitors to the Americas and have found their way into the Spanish diet over the last several centuries. Spanish cuisine has always reflected the laidback Spanish lifestyle. It is uncomplicated in its preparation and based on availability and freshness of ingredients.
Spanish food varies significantly from region to region. Spain was a nation formed by uniting many peoples that were divided by natural geographical barriers. The two basic ingredients in Spanish cuisine are olive oil and garlic, two crops that persist throughout Spain in every province. Ham is a highly valued food in Spanish cuisine and Spanish chefs take pride in securing the best quality cuts of ham. Fish and seafood are also commonly eaten in coastal regions, including octopus, eel, squid, halibut and shrimp.
The variety of Spanish food is almost limitless and there's no telling what you'll discover the next time you order a Churro or chorizo at your favourite Spanish restaurant. With dishes that combine seafood, fresh vegetables, local meats and cheeses and delicately bottled Spanish wine, every Spanish restaurant varies in how they present the rich culinary treasures of Espana.