La Mancha is straightforward eating country — game, lamb, strong cheese, hearty stews, all washed down with the local Valdepeñas red. Look for pisto manchego (a thick ratatouille often topped with a fried egg), migas (fried breadcrumbs with chorizo), gachas (a pork-and-pea stew thickened with flour) and the famous Manchego cheese, ideally aged.
Tapa culture is strong: order a drink in many bars on Calle Palma or around Plaza Mayor and you get a small free plate to go with it.