![\"\"](\"http:\/\/teensleuth.com\/newblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/madriddresses1.jpg\" "\\"madriddresses\\"")
<\/a>\n\tFlamenco dress shop photograph by Kristen Vallow<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
My sister Kristen and our friend Eugenia were both working in Madrid this summer. These are their stories.<\/p>\n
EL BOCAITO CALLE LIBERTAD <\/strong><\/p>\n A great tapas places to start the day, in the CHUECA part of town . The tiny fried squid (chopitos), and fried anchovies, steak that you finish cooking in a red hot sandstone. More than 130 tapas on the menu, 15 to 20 types of tostas (toast topped with prawns, egg and garlic, p\u00c3\u00a2t\u00c3\u00a9 with caviar, cockles, and so on), and the best pescaito frito<\/em> (deep-fried whitebait).<\/p>\n \n <\/p>\n EL CISNE AZUL<\/strong><\/p>\n On the same street from El Bocato<\/em> is an amazing place, very small, 5 tables, which serves grilled mushrooms of many species, fried egg on top and fabulous lamb chops, all cooked on the fire in front of you. Or a plate of boletus con yema (porcini mushrooms topped with a cracked egg) or chanterelles quick fried in olive oil with salt. Opens for lunch at 1, go early or you will have to wait for ages<\/p>\n MUSEO del la RADIO<\/strong><\/p>\n On Calle Santa Ana<\/em> is a funky bar decorated with old wireless sets and tiny Wendy house chairs. Have a post-market ca\u00c3\u00b1a of beer or a vermut del grifo (sweet red vermouth served from the tap). There is no space left on the walls without a radio hanging from it, some still work with current frequencies.<\/p>\n EL MERCADO SAN MIGUEL<\/strong><\/p>\n Dates from 1916, now a gourmet market along the lines of Barcelona’s famous La Boqueria. <\/em>Eat the oysters and buy a bottle of red wine at one of the stands and walk around with it, tasting\u00c2\u00a0from counter to counter or get a glass and do the same thing….walk around with it.\u00c2\u00a0Do not go during rush hours<\/em> ( 1 to 3 \u00c2\u00a0and 7 to 12 pm), It’s open until 2AM.<\/p>\n *******<\/p>\n The \u00c2\u00a0market on PLAZA del la CEBEDA<\/strong> in La Latina<\/em> for bargain ham and cheeses to take home.\u00c2\u00a0For a bottle of rioja or cava, LAVINIA on CALLE ORTEGA y GASSET <\/strong> in the Salamanca neighbourhood stocks\u00c2\u00a04,500 wines\u00c2\u00a0and has expert staff to guide you. There are gourmet food stands serving the best tapas and wines.<\/p>\n JULIAN DE TOLOSA<\/strong><\/p>\n In the old part of town….An exceptional place to eat meat. It is always full..very well known. Huge steaks cooked on the wood fire\u00c2\u00a0and a small menu with 10 things, all exceptional.<\/p>\n EL LANDO<\/strong><\/p>\n A must is dinner at El Lando. In the old part of town, owned by the same people that own the famous Casa Lucio, but it is better food and no tourists.\u00c2\u00a0For walking around the old part of town after dinner there,\u00c2\u00a0…lots of noisy fun bars and people drinking on the streets.\u00c2\u00a0Even perfect for tapas.\u00c2\u00a0from 7 pm onwards…any place on that street is great. Try:\u00c2\u00a0CAVA BAJA , PLAZA DE LA CEBADA and PLAZA SANTA ANA.<\/strong><\/p>\n Also great for strolling is the area called LAS LETRAS<\/strong> which goes from the\u00c2\u00a0Plaza Santa Ana down to the Prado.<\/em>..lots of small streets , bars etc\u00c2\u00a0The gay\/trendy area is called CHUECA <\/strong>it’s ugly but has cool shops and bars.\u00c2\u00a0For breakfast in Chueca, try:<\/p>\n MAMA INES<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>Hortaleza, 22; 91 523 2333 \u00c2\u00a0– <\/em>Try the tostadas spread with tomato, garlic and scrambled egg<\/p>\n *********<\/em><\/p>\n CAFE OLIVER<\/strong><\/p>\n Almirante, 12; 91 521 7379 <\/em>For an extensive brunch every Sunday<\/p>\n *********<\/p>\n RIBEIRA do MINO<\/strong><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.marisqueriaribeiradomino.com\/es\/estaticas\/index.asp?wm=752&id=255<\/a> -\u00c2\u00a0For Galician seafood.<\/p>\n CASA LASTRA SIDRERIA<\/strong><\/p>\n Hearty Asturian bean stew, tangy blue cabrales cheese.\u00c2\u00a0great Asturian fish – try the fine hake in cider and wash it down with luscious cider brand.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>La PAELLA de la REINA<\/strong><\/p>\n COCIDO MADRILENO<\/strong><\/p>\n For a typical Spanish dish, you must eat here. The most celebrated dish is cocido Madrileno,<\/em> a stew that mates chickpeas, potatoes and other\u00c2\u00a0vegetables\u00c2\u00a0with\u00c2\u00a0chicken, pork cuts, and beef.Cocido is poor farmers’ food in that it economically produces\u00c2\u00a0several courses, starting\u00c2\u00a0with its broth an culminating in the meats. A close second is callos,\u00c2\u00a0in\u00c2\u00a0which a tripe casserole\u00c2\u00a0with chorizo\u00c2\u00a0and chillies.<\/p>\n LA BOLA<\/strong><\/p>\n On Sunday morning go to the flea market , EL RASTRO,<\/strong> small and fun. Does not open til 11 am…beware of pick pockets. walk down the\u00c2\u00a0Ronda De Curtidores<\/em>, where the leather and horse shops are.<\/p>\n CASA PATAS<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a>Do one Flamenco night, where you can also have dinner, Friday or Saturday<\/p>\n *******<\/p>\n Museums : \u00c2\u00a0the CENTRO REINA SOFIA AND PRADO<\/strong><\/p>\n The Prado <\/em>is nearly an all day…it is VAST\u00c2\u00a0In front of the Prado are the botanical gardens..Los Jardines\u00c2\u00a0Botanicos.<\/strong>..very beautiful…must walk around them . And during the week only, walk on the RETIRO Park<\/strong>, weekends it is too crowded.\u00c2\u00a0Walking around the little streets around the Plaza Mayor<\/em>, full of great old\u00c2\u00a0shops, espadrilles, leathers etc\u00c2\u00a0If you are in the chic part of town ( Callejon Gorge Juan, Goya, Velzaquez, <\/em>etc ) <\/em>you must check out the food marquet..el Mercado De La Paz<\/strong>, it is on\u00c2\u00a0the Hermosilla street<\/em> entrance…it is beautiful food and stands<\/p>\n LA TRAINERA<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n For Sunday lunch in the area where you will be shopping , one of the two best fish restaurants in madrid, oceanic-themed, old fashioned and amazing.<\/span><\/p>\n SOBRINO de BOTIN<\/strong><\/p>\n Guinness World Records-affirmed as oldest restaurant in the world, amazing very Spanish food. Original\u00c2\u00a0wood-fired\u00c2\u00a0oven.<\/p>\n *******<\/p>\n An equally substantial rival \u00c2\u00a0and with fewer less tourists is:<\/em><\/p>\n CASA LUCIA<\/strong><\/p>\n ********<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>CHOCOLATERIA SAN GINES<\/strong><\/p>\n Pasadizo de San Gines, 11; 91 365 6546<\/em><\/p>\n Your night should properly be topped off with thick hot chocolate and churros . Best for this ritual is the chocolate brought over from the Americas, this is one more deceptive ‘pure Spanish’ tradition to be enjoyed. Can be touristy. Open until 7am.<\/p>\n Breakfasts are 8am and 11am (many office workers take both); the substantial lunches are taken between 2pm and 4.30pm\u00c2\u00a0(during which most shops close);\u00c2\u00a0the equally substantial dinner won’t start before 9pm; but tapas can fill any spaces\u00c2\u00a0in between.\u00c2\u00a0When indulging in the latter, be warned that three measures exist, with the basic tapa complemented\u00c2\u00a0by the smaller pinch and the larger racio.\u00c2\u00a0Beware that everything closes between 2 and 5 and then\u00c2\u00a0stay open until 8, but you want to have a siesta during that time in grueling, hot Summer.<\/p>\n Some particularly alluring pictures taken by my sister:<\/p>\n \n Maty<\/strong><\/p>\n Marzipan Fruits<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n La Violetta<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \n Casa Hernanadez (espadrilles shop)<\/strong><\/p>\n \n Caramellos Paco (candy shop)<\/strong><\/p>\n \n
\n<\/a><\/strong>http:\/\/bocaito.com<\/a> 00 34 91 5321219<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>00 34 91 521 37 99 gravina 19 (angle with Calle libertad )<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>calle de Santa Ana, 8<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>mercadodesanmiguel.es<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>00 34 91 365 8210 \u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0 cava baja 18 <\/em>http:\/\/www.casajuliandetolosa.com\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>00 34 91 3667681 Plaza Gabriel Miro 8<\/em><\/p>\nOlivar, 3; 91 369 083 C\/ Santa Brigida, 1 \u00c2\u00a0– 28004<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Calle Olivar 3 (tel. 91-369-08-37). <\/em>casalastra.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Reina, 39; 91 531 1885 <\/em>http:\/\/www.lapaelladelareina.com\/<\/a> <\/strong>for Valenican paella.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>915476930\/5417164\u00c2\u00a0calle bola 5 <\/em>http:\/\/www.labola.es\/<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Casa Patas C\/Ca\u00c3\u00b1izares, \u00c2\u00a0913 690 496 <\/em>http:\/\/www.casapatas.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Calle Lagasca 60 \u00c2\u00a0 tel 00 34 91 576 8035 <\/em>http:\/\/www.latrainera.es\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Cuchilleros, 17; 91 366 4217 <\/em>http:\/\/www.gomadrid.com\/rest\/botin.html<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/strong>Cava Baja, 35; 91 365 3252 <\/em>Bill Clinton ate here. Book late if you can, it gets very crowded.<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n
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