The Tabla Ibérica represents a classic dish from Spain. It features meats and cheeses that are all delicious on their own. Together, they’re a culinary delight. Here’s an example I enjoyed recently:
Wow, what a feed! Fortunately, this was shared with other people as part of a great meal. If there’s one thing the Spanish have mastered, it is cured meats. Enjoy this with a favorite wine and you’re good to go. Tan bueno!
On Calle Cava Baja in Madrid, among all those wondering tapas joints, you’ll find Alma de Julián Becerro, a shop par excellence for some of the best jamón in all of Spain.
Alma de Julián Becerro, Madrid.
Inside there are many varieties of jamón to purchase in different price ranges.
Jamónes hanging on the wall at Alma de Julián Becerro, Madrid.
There’s always a skilled and knowledgeable fellow there ready to give you information about the meats as well as to slice them for you, perhaps from this selection in the middle of the store:
Various jamónes available for slicing at Alma de Julián Becerro.
Or, you might choose a pre-sliced pack from the case such as one of these:
Prepacked meats and wine at Alma de Julián Becerro, Madrid, Spain.
Don’t forget to select a delicious bottle of wine. There are so many good foods to choose from in Spain that you’ll find yourself wanting to stay for a long, long time.
If you have a hankering for cured meats Ibérico style, Madrid (and Spain in general) offers you plenty of options for complete satisfaction. I stopped into the Museo del Jamón in Madrid one afternoon because, well, it’s hard to stay away from quality cured meats in a place where they take it to the highest levels. Not only the meats, but also the cheese and wine call out to you. Why resist? And here it is…
On the lower-center portion of the plate you’ll notice the jamón Ibérico thinly sliced with the fat around the edge. Around the upper part of the plate is the chorizo. In the center and to the left is another salami-style concoction, the name of which slips my mind just now. Then there is the manchego cheese wedged in. Of course, a hunk of bread comes in handy, as does the glass of sangria in the lower left corner of the frame. Delicious one and all.
A word about the Museo del Jamón in Madrid. It can be a crowded, boisterous place. That said, it also offers some top-notch delicacies which can be had quickly and fairly reasonably. Don’t be put off by the three-deep crowds at the counter. Work your way in, order, and enjoy!
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