A Bite of Madrid

Countless travelers have lavished their praise on Spain’s capital Madrid. If you wish to transform yourself from a common sightseer to someone who can feel the very pulse of the city, you have to take the time to personally experience every nook and cranny of this famous city. It is even better if you are under the expert guidance of a local resident. In this way you can truly experience the wonder and amazement of the Madrid’s beautiful nightlife which can last until the early hours of the morning.

Tapas (snacks)

If first glances can decide the immense love for a certain thing, then I think Tapas has done the hard work in terms of creating a colorful and alluring appearance for those who first lay eyes upon the rich variety of Tapas snacks. We could even say “Tapas” represents a life aesthetic or a way of life. The word Tapas means “cover or lid.”

Tracing back to the 17th century, the Andalusia people from the southern part of Spain enjoyed eating outdoors, and when enjoying a drink, they would usually find some food to match the flavor of the alcohol. Because the fruity essence of the alcohol would attract mosquitoes, the Andalusia people developed the habit of covering their glasses with a slice of bread or coaster to repel the insects. On top of the cover they would also place some other snacks. Over time these various types of snacks became known as “Tapas.” With the passing of time, Tapas has evolved from a simple appetizer, whose main role was to serve as an accompaniment when drinking alcohol, to a western style Gourmet lover’s cuisine.

Spicy flavored potato (Patatas Bravas), fried ham balls (Croquetas) and spicy garlic prawns (Gambas Al Pil-Pil) are all premium Tapas dishes. Apart from the servings being small in size, the most special feature of Tapas is the way it is paired with various forms of alcohol. Bars in Spain always provide a wonderful range of Tapas snacks. This practice differs from the commonly accepted custom of “the cuisine playing the leading role and the alcoholic beverage playing the supporting role.”

So what has all this got to do with Tapas as a way of life or a life aesthetic? Isn’t Tapas just a colorful array and rich variety of snacks? Or is it the enjoyment and appreciation of the true taste of life? I think it is a combination of both. I love to imitate the carefree and totally relaxed stance of the Spanish people as they stand in bars, talking and rejoicing with those.

Madrid is the go-to city for good Spanish cuisine or even delicacy of the entire Mediter ranean region. The Mediterranean food not only refers to an appet izing t ype of cuisine, but more generally refers to the style of eating enjoyed by the countries along the Mediterranean Sea. Vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals, grains, legumes and olive oil are the main favor of Mediterranean people. This style of eating is considered globally to be one of the healthiest dietar y structures. There have been studies that show this diet can reduce hear t diseases, s t rokes, prevent bad memory and even protect the blood vessels in the brain.

The entire process, from growing, har vesting, fish farming, s torage, proces sing, cooking, to consuming the f inal p roduct, reflects Mediterranean people’s deep appreciation for food. Because of the close proximity to the ocean, the leading role of seafood cannot be ignored within the Mediterranean diet. Fresh plump prawns and crabs, flesh heavy oysters, various kinds of shell and ocean fish, all carr y the flavor of the ocean. Fresh, nutritious vegetables, fruit salad, and color ful cold plat ters are also important components that make up the Mediterranean diet.

Next to them, enjoying a serving of Tapas together, and casually throwing their tooth picks to one side after finish their meal. This is the most authentic form of eating in Spain; every small detail reveals the spontaneous and lively character of the Spanish people.

Gazpacho (Cold Soup)

The essence of Spanish cooking lies in the selection of ingredients and in the process of cooking without losing the original flavor of the food. Salad is the best representative of this concept. The simple arrangement of vegetables in season, accompanied with fresh tuna, a splash of olive oil and fruit vinegar, makes it a must have before every meal.

Apart from salad, Spanish cuisine has another master dish. The combination of tomato, cucumber, capsicum, garlic, olive oil, fruity vinegar, water, bread and other various vegetables in season, makes up the cold vegetable soup “Gazpacho.” In the scorching heat of summer, the residents of Madrid like to partake in a variety of cold soups in order to bring the outside temperature down and generally make things a bit cooler. Of all the soups on offer, Gazpacho is the one most loved by the people of Madrid.

This soup did not actually originate in Madrid, but in the southern part of Spain. In the plantations and fields lying in the south of Spain, local farmers invented this soup dish as a way of combating the occurrence of heat stroke. In the Madrid, the most suitable place to eat this cold vegetable soup is on the Chueca bar street in one of the various kinds of small restaurants there. A bowl of cold vegetable soup accompanied by a glass of Mojita gives the dry heat of summer a cooler flavor.

Mariscos (Seafood)

A few centuries ago, seafood gradually became the most important part of the eating and drinking culture of Madrid. This culture has continued up until the present day. Spain has reason for being proud of its seafood culture. It not only is the second biggest exporter of seafood in Europe, its “Paella” is also the state’s signature dish.

The snails of France, the spaghetti of Italy, and Paella are rated as the three most famous western dishes. Yellow glistening grains of rice, and precious saffron flower spice, combined with countless prawns, crabs, clams, oysters and octopus... all served steaming hot. It is certainly a mouthwatering culinary delight.

Paella is delicious, but here I want to introduce the most common seafood in Madrid—octopus. It is said that the Mediterranean octopus are more delicious than the octopus in other areas. To find this culinary delight, there is no better place to go than Plaza Mayor! The alluring flavor that wafts from the big streets and small alleyways is bound to be from fried calamari rings. Calamari rings (calamares fritos), as the name implies, are calamari rings covered in batter and then fried in oil. It is the most authentic of all Mediterranean seafood.

Entering any restaurant or cafe, one can see this dish on offer. Sit with the locals at a table or stand if there is no place to sit, and enjoy some freshly fried calamari rings. Before you start eating your calamari, you can add a few drops of lemon juice or kindly ask the waiter for some tomato sauce. This can add some sweet and sour flavor to an oily palate. Or you can put some calamari rings inside a baguette and add a glass of beer to create a truly absolute flavor. In Spain, it is not fried chicken and beer that match, but calamari rings and beer.

Tips: Among the many flavors that make Mediterranean cuisine so delicious, perhaps the most special is the favor of olive oil. Greece, Italy and Spain are all plentiful producers of olive oil. The nutritional value of olive oil is found in its rich monounsaturated fats, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and in the combination of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K and antioxidant enzymes found within. Olive oil is believed to be the most suitable oil for human health. (Author: You Yikun)