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Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

There’s a word to describe the love I have for food, but I’m not sure what it is. I don’t quite consider myself a foodie, because I’m far too finicky, but I LOVE food! Every time I sit down to eat it is an experience. I actually have a “happy dance” that I do when a plate of delectableness is set before me. I’m like a little kid who can’t contain their excitement. Also, getting to try new and different foods is probably my favorite part of traveling (besides meeting incredible people along the way). So, when I got the opportunity to collaborate with Devour Madrid on their Ultimate Spanish Cuisine I was ecstatic! You mean I get to restaurant hop all around Madrid, my favorite city on Earth? Combine two of my most favorite things?! Sign me up!

We met our guide, Joy, in Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s main square. We chatted a bit and introduced ourselves. I love that the group sizes are small; as there were only 10 people (including the guide). After our intros we made our way to our first stop:

Confiteria El Riojano

This shop has been around since the 1800s, and was originally designed by a queen and built for her own private baker. When you walk through the door of this confectionary you will feel like royalty yourself. Deep and detailed mahogany woodwork, trimmed in gold, cases of decadent deserts and sweet treats – it’s a lot to take in. Luckily, we weren’t burdened with the task of selecting our own eats, because I might have been there all day trying to decide. Instead, we were ushered to the back tea room and was served with the coffee of our choice. That was an easy choice for me, cafe con leche…my go to. Next, we were treated to home-baked soletilla (ladyfinger biscuit/cookie) and a warm cup of spiced chocolate. The soletilla literally melts in your mouth, and paired with the warm and rich goodness of chocolate. It was like heaven! Cookies and chocolate for breakfast? I know…seems a bit odd, but it is very much typical in Spain.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

Stop #2: El Mercado de San Miguel

I know to some this may seem like a tourist trap. I can’t say I completely disagree as prices at this market are far more expensive than what you will find elsewhere. However, it is still a must-try in Madrid, where locals and visitors alike convene for drinks and nibbles.

This market was originally built in 1916 and served as a shopping market. However, in the 70s and 80s business drastically declined, and in the 90s it closed down. The, now gourmet, market was eventually reopened in 2009 and still bares its original wrought-iron structure.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Here, we first enjoyed a glass of Vermouth. Made with fortified white wine, caramelized sugars, and botanicals (herbs, spices, orange peel, etc.), this potent potion, along with other small dishes, serves as an aperitif to get your stomach ready for a big meal. Drinking vermouth has become a Spanish tradition – they even call it “la hora de vermut”.

 Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Paired with our vermouth we had Campo Real olives, Marcona almonds, and a quail egg, anchovy, olive, & pickled pepper skewer. I was quite leery of the anchovy, but it actually turned out to be pretty good.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

Stop #3: El Anciano Rey de los Vinos

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

If the big lettering on El Anciano Rey de los Vinos doesn´t give it away that they sell wine, the wine colored store front surely does.

Fun fact: lots of cafe and restaurant storefronts in Madrid are painted red as an indication they serve wine. 

At this stop our taste buds were tantalized with a Rioja red wine, followed by Bull tail regalito. Bull’s tail is very similar to oxtails and brisket, incredibly tender and savory. The dish was served with a crispy, flakey-type pastry on the outside and soft warm tender goodness on the inside. It was topped with a roasted red pepper with sesame seeds, which gave it a punch of flavor and a balance of textures. Drizzled with delicious au jus, this was hands down my favorite dish on the tour. I will certainly be back for more.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

Stop #4: Taberna La Bola

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Like many of the other restaurants on our tour, this restaurant is also family owned and has been passed down from generation to generation. But, what’s special about this particular restaurant is it has been passed down from woman to woman for over 100 years. You’ll see a plaque outside its building indicating such.

Taberna La Bola is famous for it’s Cocido Madrileño, a traditional Madrid stew made with chickpeas, meats, and vegetables. It’s typically served in several courses; however, we only had the first course, which consisted of the broth and noodles. We even got to go into the kitchen and watch how this delicious stew is made.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

Stop #5: Mercado de Jamón Ibérico

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

You cannot come to Spain and not taste it’s staple, jamón (unless of course you don’t eat pork or meat). Here we learned about the different types of ham, and how to tell the difference when ordering it. We were able to taste 3 different variations of the delicous meat:

Jamón Serrano is the most popular of the three. We learned that it comes from a regular pig that eat regular foods (cereal, grains, etc.). It is also cured the shortest amount of time, for 10-12 months.

Jamón ibérico de recebo comes from a special type of pig. This pig can never leave Spain,and although it feeds on the same types of foods as jamón serrano, this ham is cured anywhere from 18-24 months.

Jamón ibérico de bellota is the the cream of the crop, the best of the best. These free range, Ibérico, pigs, feast on acorns and are aged for at least 3 years. However, the jamón we ate was cured for 5 years. This was my favorite of the 3. It was silky smooth, like butter, and had the best flavor of them all. They say this jamón is heart healthier, but the cardiologist in our tour group wasn’t convinced that there’s a such thing.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

These legendary ham legs can range anywhere from 24€-600€.

 

Stop #6: Bar Cerveriz

I love a good love story. So, when Joy told us how the owner of this bar, Mari Angeles, was swept off her feet by co-owner, once customer, Carlos, I couldn’t help but to swoon. This tiny, hole-in-the-wall place is easy to miss, as it sits directly across from Mercado de San Miguel, the star of the show. Even I have walked past this place countless times and never even noticed it. It´s so tiny there are only 5 bar stools at the bar and 3 small, high-top tables. It may be small in size but it is big in reputation, and is considered by some to have the best tortilla de patata in the city.

I LOVE tortilla. When we received our plates it was a little more runnier than I prefer. However, it was absolutely delicious! Slightly crispy on the outside and then soft and gooey on the inside. It was perfection. Aside from tortilla we also tried manchego cheese, which is sheep’s milk cheese and thyme with a bit of a kick to it.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

We also tried Spanish cider which is much different than the ciders I’m used to back at home. This cider is made with only fermented apples and is meant to be drank immediately, not sipped slowly, or it loses it’s fizz. In my opinion it tasted like fizzy apple cider vinegar, not the best of tastes. However, we did get to learn how to pour cider the Spanish way.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Here I am nailing it 🙂

 

Stop #7: La Campana

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Despite being landlocked, Madrid has the second largest fish market in the world. So, when it’s famed street food is a fried calamari sandwich sandwich it’s not much of a surprise. I’m not a fan of calamari so I, along with another tour goer, opted for tortilla sandwich instead (it absolutely paled in comparison to the one at Bar Cerveriz). However, everyone else seemed to thoroughly enjoy their sandwiches.

 

Stop #8: Torrons Vicens

We couldn’t end this day without dessert, so Joy took us to Torrons Vicens. Serving up over 150 variations of nougat, from traditional to innovative, this place is like nougat heaven. We sampled 3 different types: hard nougat, soft nougat, and an egg yolk and marzipan nougat. As a final treat we were given a liqueur which helps aid in digestion. We certainly needed it after stuffing our stomachs to the brim today.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

Joy was kind enough to write down any recommendations that we were interested in, and afterwards the tour was concluded. It was an incredible tour and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Joy was helpful funny, and knowledgable about all things food. Whether you’re just stopping through the city or you’re currently living here, check out the best food tour in Madrid. It is so worth it!

Do you like to go on food tours when you travel? Where was your favorite? I’d love to hear from you.

Food, Fun, & Facts: Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour with Devour Madrid

 

Special thanks to Devour Madrid for providing me with a complimentary tour. As always, all opinions are my own.
  • LaiAriel R. Samangka ( Thelittlelai: Beyond limits)

    I can truly feel the fulfillment from the different luscious food that you guys have tasted. I like these restaurants offering a boat load of different food with the interesting stories behind it. I must say that this is truly the best food crawl, with the surroundings that is lively and amazing. The photos are also well captured. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

    May 23, 2017 at 10:31 pm Reply
  • Christine

    Awesome post! I visited a few of these places during my visit and they were amazing!! Thanks for sharing! XoXo

    May 24, 2017 at 12:46 am Reply
  • Sally

    Omgggg I’m drooling! I did a Madrid food tour with Devour Spain a couple of years ago but was surprised to find that I went to totally different places than you did. That tortilla looks absolutely drool-worthy. Given that I’m in Madrid for another week, I plan on visiting a few of these spots myself. YUM!

    May 24, 2017 at 10:00 am Reply
  • Megan Indoe

    I LOVE taking food tours in new places now! We just started doing food tours this year and now I don’t want to go to a place without doing one. You took some incredible photos, what a photogenic place! I want to eat ALL of that meat! Even though I just ate breakfast I am officially hungry again!

    May 24, 2017 at 3:57 pm Reply
  • Sandy N Vyjay

    We always believe that the food of a place is like a window to its culture, heritage and history. So we are always fascinated by articles that explore this. Found your post very interesting, especially as we did not know much about Spanish food and cuisine. Specially intrigued by EL MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL, the market looks so interesting and in its folds holds a lot of stories of the past.

    May 25, 2017 at 12:12 am Reply
  • Paige W

    First of all, even if I didn’t read a word of this post, the photos alone would’ve made a stunning photo essay. You made the everyday stuff look absolutely incredible! However, reading about this awesome Devour Spain experience has me totally sold! You did totally nail that cider pour! Also, I’m a nougat fan, but I had no idea just how many options there really are! I’ve not made it to Spain before, but I definitely need to get there!

    May 25, 2017 at 1:10 am Reply
  • Cat

    WOW so many yummy spots! I have never heard of Cocido Madrileño and would certainly love to try that! I am going to Spain next week and would definitely try jamón!!

    May 25, 2017 at 5:20 am Reply
  • melbtravel

    Reading about your Devour Spain for food tour in Madrid just made my mouth water. I would definitely be keen to do this if I am ever back in Madrid. I especially love stop 5 at the Mercado De Jamon, who doesn’t love ham yum yum

    May 25, 2017 at 9:37 am Reply
  • Genie | Gallivanting Bean

    I absolutely love markets. even when they can be touristy. I find that markets are always one of the best places to try a bunch of food without having to spend so much

    May 26, 2017 at 2:41 am Reply
  • Aubrie

    You look so cute in your pictures! I have always wanted to do a good tour! What a great way to learn about a culture!

    May 26, 2017 at 7:17 am Reply

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