Great British Pub Food…. In Madrid!
Hola amigos! It’s been over six weeks now since I moved to Madrid so I thought it was about time I gave you a little update on things. Well, you will be pleased to know that I am now well and truly settled into my new life in Spain. It has taken a little while. Flat hunting here, especially when you speak no (or very little) Spanish was particularly tricky. But eventually I managed to find myself the perfect little apartment, right in the centre of the Chamberi neighbourhood, on the Plaza de Olavide – which is exactly where I wanted to be.
Chamberi is, I guess, a little like Madrid’s version of my of old Fitzrovia neighbourhood in London. It’s poshie, but not too poshie (just rather nice). It’s trendy, but at the same time the residents are made up of a decent mix of ages. It’s central and within walking distance of most places but without being right in the hustle and bustle of the city centre. And, most importantly, it is definitely a little foodie. The few blocks around my flat are chock-a-block with gastro-bars, restaurants, tapas joints, delis and a huge indoor market. I love it!
The Spanish seem to eat out an awful lot. In fact, finding a flat with a real kitchen with an oven, four ring hob, fridge and freezer was pretty hard. Most one bedroom places just come with a microwave, which obviously wouldn’t do! Anyway, my new kitchen isn’t quite up to the luxury of my old one in London, but it will definitely do, and it is way better than what I had to cope with in Monaco.
So, what about pub food? Well, of course, the city is stuffed to the gills with the stuff. Spanish style, every bar seems to offer at least a small choice of tapas or pinchos.
In fact, there is a Spanish saying that goes “no sangre sin corpe”, or “no blood without flesh”. The Spaniards always, always like to eat something while they drink. Pub food paradise, no?
As for my own cooking, I have been busy learning the Spanish words for various herbs, spices and other common ingredients I will need for my Gordon Ramsay’s Great British Pub Food Project. I have found the food court at the local El Corte Ingles a great source of international ingredients and my local Chinese bazaar (pound shop to you and me) is full of cheapo kitchen gadgets that will get me through the year. So no more excuses, it’s time to cook! I started off with a smoked salmon and watercress tart (post to follow). Hopefully the first of muchos Great British Pub Food in Madrid.
Hasta la proxima, amigos!
