MADRID—Madrid is a city of passion. Locals, known as madrileños, are ardent about their history, culture, and perhaps, most of all, their food. From tapas to tomatoes to treats, they love it all and are eager to share their love with visitors looking for a sensory taste explosion.
Late Dining
Spaniards prefer to dine late. Whereas Americans might eat at 6 p.m., in Madrid it isn’t uncommon to start a meal at 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. This is when things really start happening as the downtown neighborhoods get filled up with locals and tourists sampling the local food at some 250 tapas bars.
These are colorful, vibrant places where you can mingle with the locals, engage in good conversation, and sample a glass of Spanish wine or beer for just a few euros. Drinks are usually accompanied by a complimentary small plate of bread, olives, cheese, jamón (ham), or seafood.
Speaking of ham, madrileños are crazy for it, and it is almost a national obsession. But unlike the thick cuts of meat one might get in the United States, the slices are carved wafer-thin and served alone as a starter or with bread and other accompaniments. Huge legs of ham hang in the shops and are on display in restaurants and packaged for take-home in high-end department stores.
The best Iberian ham, such as Bellota, comes from animals that roam freely, eating a diet mainly of acorns. This is what makes cured Iberian ham, according to locals, unparalleled in the world.
You will want to take time to stroll around the various neighborhoods such as La Latina, Chueca, Las Letras, and Santa Ana. You probably won’t get very far until you are drawn into the enticing storefronts. What sorts of foodie finds will you see? How about fine Spanish wine shops, known as bodegas, offering bottles for around 10 euros; or crusty bread in various flavors and fresh from the oven.
Olive oil is unbeatable here, and most comes fresh from local producers straight to the shelves (save room in your suitcase.) Then there are chocolates, truffles, mushrooms, and flavorful tomatoes the size of small volleyballs.
