We’re here for the Christmas markets, but also for the food. I had a request when we got to Strasbourg………………a repeat visit for a tapas restaurant we visited earlier. Eric made the reservation.
One advantage to a larger group, more items can be ordered and shared. We had plenty, but only needed four for the two of us. First two: foie gras and quiche with goat cheese.
Local sausages and pickled vegetables.
Pork roll in a delicious broth.
Naturally we ordered dessert – which was also a repeat and just as good as my memory: toasted kougelhopf cake, marinated pears with a local fruit puree and a scoop of ice cream. Yum, yum delicious. Not a drop was left on the plate. 🙂
It was a good meal at a repeat location – thanks hon.
Let’s get back to the Christmas decorations. Later in the evening, this wall also had some projections they added.
Now this was a large advent calendar, counting down the days until Christmas. All the numbers were represented, even if you can’t see them in my photo.
Decorations didn’t have to be over the top, sometimes simple and classic is best. Here’s Eric waiting patiently (not!) for my photo.
This was one of my favorite photos. In May, we had dinner at the restaurant in the background.
Several displays had giant bears in their windows.
This was seen on a side of a church, subtle but nice.
Those glasses I mentioned in the previous post?
Before coming, I read that collecting the Christmas market mugs was a ‘thing’. In Strasbourg, it was all about these (plastic) glasses. After getting your chosen hot beverage, a euro was charged for the cup. You bring back the glass, you get back a euro. Let’s just say that we are coming home with a collection. I convinced Eric these plastic glasses were much better (and lighter) than mugs for packing. We were on a hunt to not repeat a glass – we succeeded.
During our wandering, we came across some oysters – Eric needed some. And, maybe just maybe, I had a few of them – very salty.
Another ‘snack’ was a raclette sandwich – O.M.G. Their line was so long, Eric stood in line to pay for the sandwich, while I waited in the other line for pick up. Here was one of the many ‘burners’ melting the cheese before it was scraped onto a bun. You could add a protein and we got the ham.
Oh, and some gherkin pickles was the finishing touch. There was plenty for us to share with the one sandwich. We only needed one.
I needed one more photo of the cathedral while the sun was setting. I didn’t enhance this photo but the beauty of the church was stunning.
These last few photos were show some whimsical shots of Christmas I saw while walking around.
Final photos and experiences in Strasbourg before heading to Paris.
One morning Rich and I got up before the others to walk the streets early morning. There was something going on……………..
We discovered there were multiple races occuring simultaneously, various lenghts and ages. We made the way to the finish line and this gentleman picked up his daughter about 20 feet before the finish line – very cute.
Walking the historic center, I curated a number of photos. A number of bridges exist for walking or driving. It seemed like all those we crossed had ironwork, nice.
I really don’t like the locks, but I see them everywhere – even in Iceland. Really? Really!
A few city or neighborhood parks were sprinkled throughout the downtown area.
Another use for a tub. This one had a few vegetable plants along with herbs sprinkled amongst the flowers.
One afternoon several of us walked to the University’s botanical garden.
Some of the flowers were similar to those seen at home.
And one I didn’t know……………
I r.e.a.l.l.y liked this insect house we came across in the garden. Hon? Can I have one of these? Can you build me one?
All too soon, our time was up in this city.
We grabbed a ride to the train station before looking to eat somewhere. This place was 1 block away – serving really good food, Restaurant D Steakhouse. I’m sure there are bad restaurants serving bad food somewhere (chains maybe?) but no complaints for the meals thus far.
A meat & cheese plate and duck foie gras were the starters we shared.
A nice goat cheese salad was all that I needed.
Veal cordon bleu (left) along with veal scallops (right).
What is a meal without desserts?
We enjoyed our time in this lovely city. Eric and I visited with friends in 2005 and I remember very little of that time. This visit was an excellent experience. Who knows, maybe we will be back. One last group photo in front of the cathedral.
Our first night of dining was absolutely amazing. Rich found a tapas bar that specialized in regional food and this was one of the top rated: Restaurant les Chauvins. They welcome you in a modern and warm setting in preparation for discovery of the flavors of Alsace. Their mission is for their diners to rediscover the authentic taste of fresh quality products, including organic farming and the know-how of local producers. The owners make it a point of honor to work with fresh products grown on Alsatian terroir.
Days into our trip and we were still talking about some of the food from that night. The first thing to arrive was ‘tarte flammbee traditionnelle’, a lovely thin-crusted item with a special cheese base, thinly-sliced onions and bacon pieces. Truly, it is the only thing I remember from our trip in 2005.
Next three items to arrive were: foie gras de canard (duck), aslacian pork and mini-burgers.
We still wanted more food: white asparagus, rolled meat & herbs rolled in egg pasta and hot dog aslacian.
This item was liked the least: escargot in mushroom cap.
Desserts? But of course. Eric ordered ice cream……..raspberry and citrus flavors, with sparkling white aslacian wine poured into the glass. It was pretty good.
However……………..this is the dessert we talked about the remainder of our time in France: Kougelhopf pain perdu with ice cream and a v.e.r.y tasty sauce. Most similar to French Toast – only better.
The kougelhopf was a local specialty of the Alsace region. It is a yeast brioche cake with raisins and almonds although googling recipes found a multitude of fruit and/or nuts that could also be added. I am going to make this at home! Don’t think I’ve mentioned yet, but at the point this photo was taken, I had been up 32+ hours. Yikes – I’m too old for this.
Walking through the historic area, one gets hungry. Lunch was at Au Petit Bois Vert, outside on the terrace around the foot of the oldest tree in Strasbourg.
While not a tapas place, we continued to share and taste each other’s selections. Never going to be a bad meal when sitting next to water – just saying.
No surprise, I got another tarte flambe with plenty to share.
All shared the homemade duck foie gras and the assorted venison meat & cheese platter.
Eric chose the traditional choucroute garnie (sausages, pork and sauerkraut).
While Rich and Hunter had the ‘wild game (boar) from Alsace. The presentation wasn’t exactly what they were expecting, but enjoyed their selection.
The guys all got dessert with Eric choosing raspberry glace (ice cream) and cafe gourmand for the other two.
So far so good our first few days in Strasbourg. Next up, Strasbourg Cathedral.
Concluding our 2025 Spain trip was sad, but looking back over these photos – we had some great times, saw interesting sites and undoubtedly had awesome food experiences. Let’s wrap this up!
One of our stops was at Point Zero in Madrid, found in one of their most famous spaces – Puerta del Sol, in front of the Government of Madrid Community. The ‘point zero’ tradition comes from the Roman Empire, dating back to the time of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome. Remember ‘All roads lead to Rome’. And I discovered it almost matches the authentic center of this country.
Let’s talk some food. One afternoon we stopped in this establishment for a ‘light snack’. Sangria went nicely with the cheese & bread they brought us.
Even something that ‘mundane’ just tasted better in Spain.
Naturally a meat platter, an egg tortilla and a salad were thrown in for good measure.
We made another visit to Mercado de San Miguel. Yes, it might be filled with tourists but it was definitely worth going back for one last visit. We wandered until we found a spot where 2 or maybe 3 can sit then one goes off to bring back food.
Most of the photos below are easily identifiable. The top left was octopus – delicious!
Eric had anxiously been awaiting his dining experience in Posada de Villa Madrid.
Back in the seventeenth century there was only one Flour Mill in Madrid, which became in 1642 the first Posada de la Corte, under the protection of the Arab walls, where food and lodging were given to all travelers who arrived in Madrid. It was in 1980 when it was rescued (from disrepair) after 2 years of meticulous restoration, by an individual from Madrid to ensure the tradition continued. We were there when it opened at 7pm for our reservation.
Bread and olives started our feast.
Then the reason Eric made these reservations………………….Quarter lamb roasted in a wood oven – shared by him and Adrienne.
I ordered chicken and truth be told, all three of us could have eaten off of the lamb that evening. Their kitchen offered a cuisine prepared with dishes belonging to Castilian and Madrid gastronomy.
There were some ‘sides’ that came with the meal, but totally not necessary. What we did need…….was dessert. ha!
After eating, these Floratine cookies were brought with the check – like we needed more food. BTW – no crumb was left.
I have one more eating experience to share – cava street crawl. Although looking back at our photos, I don’t think we drank any cava. Ha!
This was our first stop. Pitchers of sangria were already made. They added some juice and ice and they were ready to serve.
This next place was s.u.p.e.r crowded. We squeezed into a spot along the bar. Really, we ‘made’ a spot for us to stand.
This third stop had an interesting twist. The hostess led us down some stairs so I assumed we would have horrible service. Not so much. Why was that? In one of the photos below – a doorbell when you needed something or someone.
It quit raining and it started getting thick. Both with people and with cars. There were people living above all the restaurants streetside. Yikes!
Last stop – we were getting full.
One last look of Cava Street before we left to crash at our rental. The colorful umbrellas drew your attention.
You may have noticed Eric was sporting a new look. Eric felt a new wool hat was needed. Once he saw the bronze plaque indicating a 100+ years existence in front of this store – he was sold, a blue wool hat was purchased.
Our last night we were able to see one of their iconic emblems fully lit. Read one of my earlier posts for why this advertisement continues to exist. 🙂
We enjoyed Spain – central and northern Spain. Food was great and expenses were not totally outrageous and our AirBNBs were well situated. We hope to be back and explore the southern parts of Spain.
On our way out, I wanted one last photo from San Sebastian: Peine del Viento or ‘The Comb Of The Wind’. Located in the western area of San Sebastián and at the foot of Mount Igeldo, the Peine del Viento is one of the most celebrated sculptures by Basque artist Eduardo Chillida. Here are the first two sculptures.
Installed in 1977, the artwork is a series of terraces built of pink colour granite and three anchor-like iron shapes welded into rocks. This is one of the most visited places by tourists and locals, especially on stormy days, when waves pound against the cliff rocks. And this is the third sculpture.
All my photos had been from the Old Town, but here is one last shot of San Sebastian, taken near the sculptures, looking towards the beach and the Old Town.
We are headed West towards Oviedo and halfway there we started thinking about eating. Googled ‘places to eat near me’ and in 5-ish minutes, we would be near a highly-rated restaurant. Okay, let’s do it.
What’s in a name? We knew it didn’t open until 1pm and that was our arrival time. Once again, we were the first ones inside the restaurant.
Let’s just say they took pity on us and shared they could set up in a table in a side room for us. Okay. It was a set menu displayed in the entrance. Eric caught on before I did and possibly, he searched the internet while we waited.
We had walked into a Michelin Star restaurant – without a reservation and we were being seated. OMG. You might see the price above and go ‘yikes’. For foodies and for anyone wishing to eat at a Michelin star restaurant – this was a deal. We tend to look for ‘Michelin recommended restaurants’ which are less expensive but quite frankly just as good.
First to arrive was their bread, butter and marianito. We all really enjoyed the parsley butter. What was so special about it? It was just darn good and not seen before.
The foie gras curd topped with orange gelee’ arrived, complete with an ivory spoon and edible flowers on the rim. Both Adrienne and Eric reaped the benefits of my selective eating. I tried everything that was brought to the table. Some I liked (or not) and this was one that after the orange gelee was eaten, i could eat the foie gras curd underneath – not an entire cup mind you. And yes, I ate some of the flowers. 🙂
This dish we talked about several times after the visit. Several cockles were nestled amongst the green peas. The light green round items were potato-shaped garlic bombs (my word, not theirs).
Our next plate was probably the one I liked the least. The mushrooms had been formed into a ‘log’, with fried (?) garlic dough balls on the ends. I didn’t love the flavor profile but the other two enjoyed the remainder.
Okay, I knew the meat in the next dish I would eat, but somewhat hesitant about the smoked eel. Our server said it could be altered, but also shared it was a small part of the dish. I didn’t change a thing. I tried both, but let’s be real. By this time, I was getting full. Add in wine and rustic bread……………I was reaching my food intake limit.
The creativity was good, I liked the fresh farm egg yolk and the crunchy ‘chips’ which did add some flavor to the wheat rice. The other two were starting to be selective when finishing their dishes as we still had more to come.
I enjoy mullet but never been served with it roasted. The cauliflower and sauce was interesting. I had plenty to share.
The beef was very tasty and I enjoyed the ghnocchi. Again, I had plenty to share with the other two. We made it through all of the courses. I am truly stuffed.
Two different dessert options were available so naturally between the three of us, we got to try both. Their homemade ‘torrija’ was the clear winner. I enjoyed my coffee brownie with the two different types of ice creams, but the other was perfect.
To top off the meal (like we really needed more food – LOL) coffee and petit fours (Yuzu, passionfruit, jellied red fruits and white chocolate arrived for each of us.
After the meal was concluded, our server took us over the other side of the building. The main dining room looks out over the valley, but more importantly, there were two open kitchens where all the food was being prepared (same menu) and part of their experience. Really, it was the only difference between the two eating spots.
Speaking of views………………
Behind the restaurant was a vineyard.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.
Before writing this, i looked at the website for Eneko. Oh my goodness. They shared the timeline of their restaurants.
~2005, first restaurant opens here, Azurmendi
~2007, first Michelin Star
~2010, second Michelin Star
~2012, third Michelin Star
~2013 thru 2016, numerous awards and Azumendi opens in Thailand, chef selected to form group of European’s Young Leaders
~2017, opening of Eneko at this location, earned Michelin Star, also opened in Tokyo
~2018 thru 2020, earns number of sustainability awards
~2021 thru 2024, opens restaurants in Seville, Madrid (2) and Bilboa, Chef Eneka Axta wins Vanitatus Chef of the Year
I have to end this post here. The remainder of our drive to Oviedo, pales in comparison. The adventure will continue in the next post.
Our last day in the city and we made the most of it. We found a little market and bought cheese (for Eric) and bread (for myself) which I used for toast the next several days – yummy.
The beach along the bay had different activity this morning – sports.
Our goal today was the San Sebastian Cathedral as it is commonly referred to or the full name is Cathedral of the Good Shepherd of San Sebastian.
Its construction took place in the last years of the 19th century in a Neo-Gothic style. One of the most astonishing features of this cathedral is the bell tower, standing at 75 meters and is one of the tallest points in San Sebastian.
Once inside, it is imposing.
One of the first chapels on the right held this clock. I haven’t seen one of those spaces dedicated in this way.
naturally there a multitude of stained glass windows.
I discovered another set of windows with this anchor, undoubtedly closely linked to the people of San Sebastian.
One of the highly ornamented chapels:
Lately I’ve started noticing the columns of these churches and all of the extra ornamentation. Always someone watchng the congregation – be it person or beast.
As we were leaving the building and area, the bells started ringing.
One thing I discovered on the internet about the Cathedral I found interesting. They have a subterranean pumping machine in their basement to prevent flooding in San Sebastian. The presence of this underground infrastructure demonstrates the historical significance of the cathedral in the city and its ability to adapt to the community’s needs. They are intertwined amongst crucial moments of Spanish history. During the Spanish Civil War, the cathedral as a field hospital.
A number of hours had passed since our food tour the previous night and it was time for mourishment. Eric wanted a repeat from an earlier foray – pig ear.
He was happy with his selection, and I ate another braised beef cheek – such a hardship, not!
We revisted the place with the ‘potato salad’ and saw another pintxos being prepared – we wanted one. Tomatoes with tuna – delicious!
Another stop at the Oyster place, which I discovered I never got a photo of the outside. We were there so much, the guy recognized us – by us, I mean Eric and Adrienne.
Believe it or not, we were trying to hold back. We had dinner reservations at a seafood restaurant tonight and wanted to go with a (semi) empty stomach.
It was a good restaurant. I wouldn’t call it fantastic, but with so much food and michelin stars around, what is ‘good’ is relative. There were a few reasons Eric wanted to eat here. First were the barnacles. It would be a first for Eric and truthfully, there’s not many new things he hasn’t tasted.
Okay, interesting. We asked the best way to get to the meat and a manager came over to show us. Don’t think I mentioned, we were the only ones in the restaurant. Our reservation was when it opened – which is way too early for locals to eat. Actually, they did seat us and let us order wine before they opened and we could order.
Back to the barnacles. Did I eat them? Yes, and here’s proof.
The had a special item on their menu that we got for sharing. Crab was the main component. It was okay. Truth be told, I would have rather eaten more of the barnacles.
Here is the second reason Eric wanted to eat here……………………Turbot. First, they brought out the uncooked fish, sharing its weight and cost. Yes, they wanted it. I say ‘they’ as this is a dish for two. Adrienne was all in and wanted to be part of the ‘two’.
It was served table-side.
What did I eat? Shrimp and frites. Both were good.
This was to be our last night in San Sebastian.
We packed and cleaned up the apartment, basically pulling together our recyclables and items to throw away. In the morning, drinking our coffee, we heard clapping. Looked outside our window and saw this.
A few minutes later, groups of runners arrived.
The photos were taken from our apartment – a great locaiton by the way for eating and walking. We hope to be back to San Sebastian for more food adventures.
After visiting the church, we explored the city and nearby harbor. It was a gorgeous sunny day.
We could see a kayak slicing through the water, and waaaaaay in the distance was a swimmer. OMG – the water was cold.
There was a staircase, leading down into the water. Naturally it needed investigation. Hmmm, what was Adrienne taking a photo of? Oysters and barnacles on the framework, of course.
Then these two gentleman walked past us – definitely looking like they were heading into the water. Yep, that was where they were going. Unfortunately, the gentleman with the black swim shorts changed while standing and it took me a second to see that he was naked and putting on his swimming attire. That second – I saw way too much. Really? Really! Eric said the look on my face was priceless.
City Hall was along the waterfront………….
……….along with a small park for kids to play in and others to set on benches to people-watch. I wandered over to these trees and noticed some were using screws to keep them from splitting apart. Interesting. Looks like they need some maintenance as one of the screws wasn’t doing much good.
Continuing our walk along the promenade, we came across these sand designs when looking over the railing.
But then we saw a sand artist at work.
The finished design:
And just in case one wanted to contribute to his cause……….Adrienne dropped a coin, but missed the sheet. Wop wop. You could also see the tools he utilized for his masterpiece – three rakes.
All this walking called for a bit of lunch. Instead of ordering some tapas and standing around table tops, we were looking more for a restaurant – and found Bardulia.
Iberian ham, roasted peppers, frites and veal cheeks. Enough to make us through until tonight’s adventure – a highly-rated food tour.
Walking through the town, they had some spring flowers in full bloom. We never see tulips in Florida and several beds were planted with them. Pansies were mixed in the same bed.
Also found this candy-stripe tulip.
Always drawn to purple flowers.
But let’s talk about one of the absolute highlights of our time in San Sebastian – a food tour. Not just any food tour, but one that has a 5-star rating after 574 reviews – that is nothing short of amazing……..and so was our tour.
We met our tour guide, Eski, a few blocks from our apartment and after some introductions, food likes/dislikes we were on our way. One thing extra special………we were the only ones on her tour that evening. That’s what happens when you visit a place in the off-season – which was perfect for us. 🙂
Our first stop was:
We learned the proper way to pour cider, which gives it some body and carbonation. This cider is not sweet at all. Eski provided the demonstration.
Then we all got to try it.
Since we are good with tasting and sharing food, every place we stopped, we got to try different things based upon our likes. We got scallops, braised beef and didn’t get a photo of the third item. 😦
Next stop:
I had a potato dish, similar to potato salad that was f.a.n.t.a.s.t.i.c. Throughout the remainder of our trip in Spain, when possible, we ordered it again. We’ve looked up the recipe so we’re expecting Eric to recreate it once we get home. The other two items were fried shrimp and a fried sardine.
We could also choose our drink at each of the stops. This time we all had local white wine.
Eski was quick to pivot on our tour to either expand our culinary options or find better choices. This next stop was a favorite of Eric’s.
It was all about the foie gras for those two while I had the grilled oyster mushrooms.
We were not done yet, we still had two more stops.
As we walked into this establishment, we were greeted like family and brought back to a table in the back. We either got a hug, or a kiss on our hand by the owner? Father of the owner? Didn’t matter, he was a real charmer. Our guide is well-known and has a fabulous reputation. She holds every place we stopped to a high standard. Here we had croquettes, octopus and Iberian ham.
By this time, I was done eating. It was way too much food for me. Add to the fact the tour was an evening tour and all that food would be sitting on my stomach. I had already switched to drinking water at this point.
Eric and Adrienne had been at our last stop the previous day and was underwhelmed by their pintxos.
She ordered two of the same ones and because the owners know her, they make her pintxos fresh. Oh, what a difference in taste – according to Eric and Adrienne. What were they? Truth be told, I don’t know. I was ready for bed and fading. Stuffed pepper? Salmon?
Looking back on our experience………..it was a great tour. Here is the review that Eric left and I couldn’t agree more.
She had a chance to respond:
We do hope to be back. We enjoyed San Sebastian and all the food it offered.
Ginny
Oops, had to add one more photo – our group from the tour.
When we were at Barcelona several years ago, we stopped at markets that not only had produce for purchase but also places to eat inside the market. We loved that! If possible, we definitely stop at those places for eating. One of the best reasons the three of us enjoy these………we can each order the type of food we desire and are not limited to one restaurant’s menu.
We’ve already hit one such market in Madrid, but we have found several more. Let’s start with Mercado San Ildefonso.
They are billed as the first street food market in Spain inspired by the street food markets of London, Singapore and New York. Opening in 2014 it’s near where the traditional food market was located until 1970 when that was demolished
It offers 18 stalls and three drink bars on three floors devoted to different gourmet products. There are no boxes of vegetables, no fresh fish or meat to take home but an establishment to take a break during a shopping day or meet friends after work.
Enough talk, let’s see the food. I ordered the chicken skewers and fries.
Eric ordered a few things to share:
We enjoyed our meal, but so far, the first market we visited on Day 1 beats this.
We were splitting our vacation between three cities in Spain and before taking off to northern Spain, we wanted to stop at Mercado de san Miguel. We had been told that this was mainly a tourist market that locals no longer visit. Well, we’re tourists. Let’s go!
This market is a monument to Spanish cuisine located in the heart of Madrid. They welcome more than 7 million visitors each year. 100+ years have passed since this was inaugurated as a food market. This historic building allows visitors to take a tour of the flavors from each of the corners of Spain.
You know what? It was full of tourists – but we enjoyed it. 🙂 It had a ‘vibe’ going and after finding seats……it was a fun experience. People were continually moving around so after finding a table spot for the three of us – we were set.
Mostly I sat at our spot, trying to keep our stools, but upon occasion, I left them and did some exploring on my own inside the market.
Let me show you some of the vendors I came across. Perfect little sausages to pop in your mouth with their own holder.
Always enjoy a good fish display.
Several different types of paella.
First time seeing octopus on skewers.
There were a few stalls that had oysters, all from France.
Having the little figures in front of their cheese displays made it much easier to decipher the beginning ingredient of their displayed cheese.
There was at least one vendor that had sweets after you finished your savory choices. A great way to top off your meal – just saying.
But what did we eat? Let’s see………………
Oysters from two different vendors.
Octopus, very tasty and not chewy at all.
One of the last dishes was the paella with the squid ink. It turned your tongue black.
But we ultimately finished with Ibersian ham (of course) with nuts and crackers.
Yes, we can say the place was full of tourists but I would still recommend anyone visiting Madrid to stop by and pick up some goodies. We would definitely stop by again.
Food, glorious food – that’s what we visited for. And maybe, just maybe some wine.
Eric had read that Bodego de la Ardosa was a ‘do not miss’ spot in the old part of Madrid. We stepped away from our apartment, traversed a number of narrow streets while dodging some rain drops and FOUND IT!
It was established in 1892 and has a unique look and feel and it is always busy. It is a place that locals visit which was evident on our visit.
A lady sitting at a barrel table took pity on us and invited us to that table as she was leaving soon. She also recommended a few things to try – which we did. The tortilla patata was amazing. The kitchen brings it to the bar steaming hot, waiters cut slices and serve it. It was a perfect size for sharing as we had more things coming.
And oh boy! One of the tastiest things arrived next: braised beef cheeks. We had just enough of the above dish left to dip into the gravy below. Yum! We wished we had more bread for dipping.
Fried calamari and Iberian ham rounded out our selections.
We were all very happy. I didn’t get photos of our libations, but we had sangria, vermuth and several glass of local red wine.
I mentioned we were ‘lucky’. This was true in more ways than one. They had a maximum capacity of 40, which was plastered outside their door. During that evening the bar seemed to empty out, but new diners coming in had to wait outside until others left. Annnnnddddd it was now raining. What a yucky night to be stuck outside.
But back to the story………where were they? Some patrons were directed to their ‘back room’, only accessible by dunking under the bar. Really not the best photo but hopefully you can get the idea.
The doorway in the background below was right before you had to duck down to crawl through.
What? Yep, on a repeat visit we got placed in the ‘inner sanctum’. The front room had walls covered with bottles and memorabilia, as did the backroom.
It was finally time for us to leave and get out in the rain. Adrienne was the only one prepared with an umbrella.
We booked a food tour on our first full day in Madrid. Yep, everything thus far occured on the day of our arrival – after a nap. 🙂
They specialize in small group tours and as you can see above they have an umbrella company with tours in 80+ locaitons. In fact a family on our tour had done their ‘Paris Secret Food Tour’ and liked it so well, they booked with the same company for Madrid.
The group met our tour guide In Puerto de Sol, a major metro hub. It was also the location of Madrid’s bear statue, representing Madrid’s coat of arms. Tourists have noticed a discoloration on the bear’s hind leg and tail and subsequently believe that touching the statue will bring good luck – a myth totally made up by tourists.
In this plaza was also this huge sign – Tio Pepe. It’s a 100+ years old advertisement for sherry that has now turned into a cultural icon. At one time this square was filled with advertising signs and commercial billboards and this is the only remaining sign. The people of Madrid are passionate about the sign and its location. It’s staying for now.
This food tour was more than just food. Our guide, Jo, also included a good bit of history. Plaza Mayor – a major public square in the heart of Madrid, which dates back to the 15th century. It is a vibrant hub for cultural activities, festivals and public events. This is where the people go for New Year’s Eve, watching the clock tower with projections among other events happening that night. Our tour guide said ‘Think of NYC Times Square’.
We started with a hot beverage and pastry. Eric got the molten chocolate drink. Me, a cappuccino.
This is where we first learned about the bronze placques occasionally seen on the sidewalks.
Bronze pavement plaques are given by the city of Madid to denote a business or restaurant has continually worked for 100+ years. Once our guide pointed them out, we started to notice them. Even the restaurant at the top of this post had one – which we didn’t notice until our second visit.
Our first stop had some awesome sweets in their display cases. We might have to come back here on our own later in the week.
It was time to introduce meat to our food tour. We walked to Bartolome‘.
Loved the different types of ham – don’t ask me to identify them, way too many. The bread dipped in the (delicious!!!) olive oil helped break up the fat left on your tongue.
In the hallway to their storage, our guide pointed out these hanging hams. She also explained the cone at the bottom was to catch fat as it continued to dry.
And, there was another bronze pavement plaque.
Our next step was something that eric had been dreaming about……….
Calamares sandwich.
We walked into a long skinny establishment and took up places along the bar.
With a little big of magic (and hot oil), these calimare turned into delicious bites of goodness. We each got half a sandwich and that was enough. A plate of fried potatoes, a beverage of your choice and we all dug in. Yes, I enjoyed the sandwich also.
Two more places to go, can we make it? We will give it our best.
This next stop was very much a local stop. And it was about the vermuth.
First up was the glass of local vermuth. It wasn’t bad. It starts as a white wine and gains a darker color through infusion of caramel and various other spices and botanicals, often with a slice of orange and/or olive in your glass. It can be enjoyed straight up or on the rocks. At 15% alcohol, they consider it a perfect aperitif before a meal.
A plate of fried pork bits and other assorted veggies rounded out the food offerings.
Those little sausages below were very tasty.
Finally made it to our last stop:
Once again, it was a variety of tasting plates, but this round included a few bites of seafood.
One of the pair of young ladies on our tour was celebrating her birthday and we all shared some of her birthday cake and another sweet goodie. Personally, I liked the cake on the left best.
It was raining fairly steady, so when the rest of the group departed, we stayed for more wine and talk.
Which also gave a chance to grab a photo with the tour guide, Jo.
It was a really good tour, even with dodging the rain. We were all prepared with umbrellas – after Eric and I bought one each at a convenience store………..
It was waaaaaaaay too much food for me, but it well received by the other two. 🙂 More walking and adventures are coming.
I was able to tick off another thing on my bucket list………..5K Turkey Trot. Why was it on my list? Most ‘turkey’ runs are on the morning of Thanksgiving and I’m working. This 5K was scheduled the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. Where?
Southern Hill Farms
This is a 120-acre family-owned and operated farm in Lake County. They offer u-pick and commercially harvested blueberries, strawberries, peaches and seasonal veggies. They first planted blueberries in 2010. In the Spring and Fall, sunflowers and zinnia fields are ready for cutting.
But on sunday, they were offering a 5K race and kids fun run! Florida was having a short cold spell and these were the temps as we drove to the location.
Brrrrrr – that’s cold for us. We checked in to get our running bibs, just as the sun was coming up.
One of their structures was a rooftop deck and great for a few photos.
I was able to capture a photo with the blueberry bushes and a bit of fog that had not burned off yet.
The race kicked off at 8am. The ‘Fasties’ were stationed under the start/finish line. Those of us walking & jogging were ‘MIddle of the Pack’ group, followed by the ‘Those Strolling’.
Starting right on time, the first part of the route was paved and went through the center of their u-pick fields.
I got to pass by the western side of a sunflower field.
But then, we ran into this substance………………sand. Ugh! It was NOT fun to run/jog/walk. A few of us were sticking to the edge to find vegetation. Or at least something that was more compact. There were a few runners with their baby strollers. They were having a VERY hard time in the sand.
I mentioned they started as a blueberry farm. Yep, we were going past the perimeter of blueberry fields!
Until we went through the middle of the field.
Got to take a shot on the eastern side of the sunflower field. Can’t wait until they get a bit taller, and we can stop by for fresh produce and cut sunflowers.
Part of the course was doubling-back from where we started. Yeah! on a solid surface again. I can see the finish line!
Finally made it. Now I need to find Adrienne. I was not going to let that little kid behind me reach the finish line first.
But wait……..one of the tastiest parts of this event………warm, fresh apple-cider donuts at the finish line. They were delicious!!!!
Before heading back to the house and a shower, one last photo. Adrienne placed 3rd in her age bracket and was awarded a wooden cutting board. Another ‘goodie’ we got for participating was the small, planted succulents.
How do you refuel after that? Go for sushi.
Hot tea and assorted plates for sharing was just the thing. Feeling full and tired…..a Nap was next on the agenda.
We had one more activity planned for Thanksgiving week. Dinner thursday night at Columbia’s Restaurant in Celebraton.
It’s become our tradition to eat dinner at this Cuban restaurant after getting off work for this holiday.
The first thing we always order………Sangria, concocted table side. Two glasses please, one for me and one for Adrienne. Sorry Eric.
Bring on the Spanish bean soup, Cuban bread and the 1905 salad. These were the precursor to our meal.
One of my top favorite entres is their La Completa Cubana. A feast of lechon asado, boliche criollo, empanada de Picadillo, platonos, yuca, black beans & yellow rice. Yum, Yum. Waaaaay too much for one meal but I always plan on the leftovers to take for lunches the remainder of the week.
Eric’s selection was the Red Snapper ‘Alicante’. Boneless fillet of red snapper baked in a casserole with sweet Spanish onions, green peppers, a rich gravy, olive oil, garlic, white wine topped with sliced roasted almonds. He was happy.
Adrienne selected their traditional 1905 salad, with a nod towards Thanksgiving. Their ‘legendary’ salad is tossed table-side with crisp iceberg lettuce as the base. But instead of the baked ham, turkey is the protein. Add in swiss cheese, tomato, olives, greated Romano cheese, worcestershire sauce and their ‘famous’ garlic dressing. It is indeed a meal.
One last thing is needed to finish the night – dessert.
Pumpkin pieCrema Catalana
That pretty much wrapped up our Thanksgiving week for 2024.
Darden Travels 