Churros y Chocolate

Churros y chocolate make an excellent snack on the way home from a night of tapas and wine. After several trips to Spain, I finally decided to indulge in this decadent treat, selecting the Chocolateria San Gines which lies between the Plaza Mayor and Plaza Isabel II. In other words, it was on the way back to my hotel from the aforementioned tapas rampage. Here’s a photo of the entrance:

It’s hard to miss with a neon sign up top that you can see glowing from a block away even if you can’t exactly see the sign itself.

The churro is a bit of fried dough extruded into a stick topped with sugar. Some purists avoid the cinnamon. However, I’ve had them with the cinnamon and it is a welcome touch. Here’s a view of a typical order of the regular variety:

A word about the chocolate. It is thicker than hot cocoa that many Americans may know, and yet thinner than you would expect. It is the perfect consistency in that when you dip the churro into the chocolate, it adheres without being gooey. How this is achieved, I have no idea. Doesn’t matter. Furthermore, the chocolate is not overly sweet and still possesses no bitterness. Amazing. This is a fine treat right before you go to bed. Good for your teeth, too. (Just kidding on the teeth part.)

Published in: on May 13, 2010 at 7:37 pm  Comments (1)  
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Museo Pan Gallégo, Madrid

Museo Pan Gallégo is located just a block and a half from the Plaza Mayor on the little Plaza de Herradores. This is a busy crossroads, with people coming up over the hill from the area of the Teatro Real. Here’s a look at the storefront:

I like small shops because they usually embody the character of their owners as opposed to the sterile environment of the big super centers. This place certainly fits the bill, starting with the sign out front.

There’s plenty of proclamations on the sign. Check it out carefully for a brief history of the shop. Inside you’ll find not only various types of fresh-baked bread, but plenty of Spanish treats from olives, to chorizo, to cured hams, and so on. Here’s a quick look at the interior:

When in Madrid, it’s hard to resist popping into one of the tapas joints for a quick snack. However, as mentioned in previous posts, why not pick up something at a little shop like this, heading to a park or your hotel room for a mini-fiesta of your own. You’ll get to interact with the people in the shop and be able to dine at your leisure afterward. This is a fun way to immerse yourself in another culture. Tasty, too!

Published in: on May 9, 2010 at 10:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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Mercado San Miguel, Madrid

Mercado San Miguel is located off western end of Madrid’s Plaza Mayor in the old part of the city. The place has been remodeled and updated in the last couple of years. The people of Madrid and visitors alike pile in through these sleek glass doors for the best of every type of food on offer.

Let’s start with the basics. How about some fruits and vegetables like this:

Next would be fresh bread, no? How about like this?

Maybe you prefer fresh seafood such as this:

Has to be something there you like. By the way, don’t forget the cheese. Take your pick from this counter.

Olives and such are one of the basics of every Spanish meal, too. Which one is your favorite? They’re all here.

And while you’re at it, might as well get dessert.

What else? There’s wine, oysters on the half shell, and plenty of other things that simply won’t fit here in a standard post. If you’re ambling about Madrid, in the area of the Plaza Mayor, I would stop in here for a snack or everything you need for a great meal. By the way, there will be a post showing the tapas that can be had. Stay tuned.

Published in: on May 7, 2010 at 1:01 am  Leave a Comment  
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