In search of the exotic in Galicia

An article this morning in one of the local papers, La Voz de Galicia, laments the lack of authentic international cuisine in the region. Apparently, in the whole autonomia there are fewer than fifty genuine restaurantes exoticos autenticos: foreign restaurants run by native professionals.

Here in Vigo it seems we have an Indian and a Lebanese, which latter I must seek out as we are told it provides even el mitico hommos as well as belly dancing, although I can probably manage without the floor show. La Coruna fares a little better with a Greek, an Indian, a Japanese and a Sephardic restaurant. While Santiago has a slightly bigger range again, for the most part "exotic" cuisine in Galicia means Italian, Argentinian, Mexican, Brasilian and Chinese and, according to La Voz de Galicia, many of these are in fact run by Spaniards with a foreign cookbook.

What is the reason for this? According to La Voz de Galicia, it is because there is a surfeit of local provision, some 37,ooo empresas de hosteleria in the region. According to la voz de Anthea, it could well be the fact that Gallegos prefer Galician cuisine. I have already commented on their love affair with the ubiquitous potato and the popularity of cocido gallego, with the occasional mention of caldo gallego and local seafood dishes. La Voz de Galicia does say that Lugo and Orense used to have more exotismo but the places have all closed, asfixiados by local cuisine.

Another point made in the article is that many people, for lack of another way of earning a living, open a restaurant without any professional training; hence the numerous little locales that spring up overnight.

Now, I see in today's Guardian that a certain Heather Mills (formerly McCartney) is doing the same in the UK. Significant?