butterfly

In Madrid you can also get Sanchez Romero, Joselito Gran Reserva etc. from most regular El Corte Inglés supermarkets (as opposed to having to go to the Club de Gourmet, which not all El Corte Inglés supermarkets have). La Leonesa near the Anton Martín metro stop at c/Santa Isabel 1 also sells Sanchez Romero 5J.

All of the places in La Latina will be open until the end of the Verbenas de la Paloma/San Cayetano/San Lorenzo (August 15)--a series of big street parties in La Latina and Lavapies. After that, quite a few places in these neighborhoods close for two or three weeks and things get very sleepy.

I don't understand this comment. What was exaggerated? I love eating all over Spain (and miss it dearly right now that I am spending a few weeks away...). Every area has its strengths and weaknesses. I felt that vserna made apt observations regarding the particular strengths of Madrid. I'm unclear on what was exaggerated...

I've also lived in Madrid and Barcelona and traveled the country extensively and vserna hit the proverbial nail on the head. I'd also add that Madrid has wonderful working class, everyday food. Even the food in my five-year-old's public school is (almost unbelievably) excellent. Madrileños DO eat very, very well.

When my son had low iron, the doctor here recommended that he eat "carne equina". She said kids who don't like meat tend to like it better. I believe they sell it at El Corte Inglés (and I've seen it at regular carnicerías, too).

I've had cecina de caballo (from Castilla y León): http://www.cecinadevillarramiel.com/index.html

I can't imagine that is the case. Your photos have ensured that I will go there to see for myself the next time I'm in BCN. I'm sure I'm not the only one! I have seen some food photos from Spanish restaurants show up as stock footage before. Maybe this is what happened.

The tomatoes sold for salad in any market are almost always light green streaked with red (or even a deeper green/red, like tomates raf). These tomatoes have the best texture and flavor for eating raw (they are entirely ripe). If I ever found myself living in the US again, these tomatoes (especially tomates raf) are one of the foods that I would miss the most.

Ha--somehow I missed that. Pigeon parfait... what a dish. Talk about settling scores.

Too bad squab wasn't on the menu...

The face/snout (careta de cerdo/morro) can be used for all sorts of things: making stock, stews, beans, and also a la brasa.

Enhorabuena to all! Banging my head against impossible bureaucracy and hermetically-sealed Spanish institutions is one of my primary pastimes, so I can truly appreciate this aspect of your trials and travails. I'm already looking forward to stopping by next time I'm in Barcelona. Any plans to do something similar in Madrid? Or sell some of these goodies here?

The exact address is Juan Bravo, 12 (the panini place is next door).

Off topic food-wise, but most Spanish hotels can easily arrange babysitting if you give them a little notice.

Wow, this restaurant looks really beautiful and theatrical. The photos are spectacular. Thanks so much for posting... I don't want the meal to end. P.S. I think they are taking some liberties with those etymologies, but I like the idea, nonetheless.

Maybe something to do with the French region, Béarn (béarnaise=from Béarn; the sauce=butter, egg and vinegar).

In my experience, most markets have the best selection on Friday or Saturday morning (most are closed Saturday afternoon). This is especially true for fish. The markets at Christmas time are the best; in August, the worst.

Nice report. I'm glad you got to appreciate the simple foods. If you love simple, pristine ingredients, you don't have to go to starred restaurants to eat really, really well in Spain. In Madrid, especially, it's the everyday food that really shines.

Thanks for the recommendations. And for the anedote--I had no idea a humble little salmonete could embody manliness itself. (The guy obviously just wanted to hoard the livers because that's the most flavorful part.)

I've never seen any sort of bugs or critters in jamón... I don't think this is a very common problem. But I think the OP needs to know what to ask for. If you are looking for the very best, then you want jamón ibérico, not jamón serrano. I'd stick to the "jamón ibérico de bellota" or "jamón ibérico de recebo." The El Corte Inglés at Preciados has a good selection (though I find they sometimes don't cut it as well as the people at the market)--they definitely have Joselito Gran Reserva. La Leonesa on Santa Isabel in Antón Martíin (on the outside of the market) has Sánchez Romero 5J and I am almost certain they cryovac. Pretty much any decent market has at least one stall with the really good stuff, but I don't know how many cryovac. Customs will seize it if you declare it. But I have to say that the last few times that I've gone through the US, my bags WERE sniffed by the dogs and on one recent occasion we had to empty one out and they inspected everything carefully. So it's not a sure thing.

Thanks so much for the suggestions, Rogelio. A chamizo on the beach sounds like heaven. We might go for the day to Jerez and/or Cádiz/Sanlúcar, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to get them. Anyone been to Zafra, Almendralejo or any of the other little towns in this part of Extremadura?

I happened to see one of these at the supermarket today and looked at the ingredients. It IS artificially sweetened (with maltitol, if I remember correctly). No honey, no sugars. Edulcorantes (sweeteners, meaning artificial sweeteners) is the word that gives this away--along with the oddly-colored packaging. Unfortunately, a lot gets lost in translation when the importers slap their labels on.

Hello all-- We are going to spend Semana Santa in this area and are looking for any recommendations--big or small--that you might have. We are already looking forward to trying El Campero in Barbate. Of course we're hoping we'll be able to take advantage of the beginning of the tuna season (will it be too early?). Any other recommendations? Gastronomic side trips we should take? Markets in the area? We'll be driving from Madrid, so any high points along the way would also be appreciated. I'm thinking of taking the Extremadura route--via Mérida--I'm particularly interested in the jamón ibérico towns, Zafra and Almendralejo. Many thanks (as always).

Yes, that's exactly how it is. Though the midday meal is called comida, not almuerzo in some parts of Spain.

I think that's the artificial sweeteners, I remember seeing similar warnings on some sugar free gums and sweets. Or does the honey make things runny?! (sorry) ← Yes, this is the sugar-free version--it's sweetened with artificial sweeteners, not honey. A lot of turrón (and chocolate) companies put out sugar-free versions. The gold label that the importer put on it is not correct. ← Oh, I assumed they took the sugar out and left the honey in. If there's no honey and no sugar, what's in the damn thing!? ← Nowhere on the Spanish packaging does it say "honey"--just on the gold label that the importer slapped on it... Underneath the label, I believe it says "Crema de Turrón." "Edulcorantes" in this context means artificial sweeteners--probably lactitol and sorbitol. (Sorbitol is the one that can cause diarrhea...)