Savory Spain & Portugal: 2004
When you take your tongue out sightseeing in Spain and Portugal, what are its favorite taste treats?
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Vegetarian Madrid
For vegetarians, go IMMEDIATELY to Cafe Artemisa, recommended in Rick's Spain and Portugal book. It's on Calle Tres Cruces off Plaza del Carmen, and is about the best vegetarian food we've had in the world, much less Spain! Ate there 3 nights in a row, with a varied menu and everything absolutely fresh and delicious with a Spanish flair! Also, Cafeteria Europa at Puerta del Sol- predictably fun and good with fun waiters if you joke with them! In general, the food in Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia was awesome- sangria, paella, all kinds of tapas- try it all!!!
Sue <email>
London, England Mon 12/27/2004
tapas and pinxos in the basque country
My favotite treat is the tortilla de patatas! It is an egg and potato dish that can include other things such as ham, peppers, or whatever you choose to include. Of course there are many other great treats that are mentioned here such as paella, fresh mariscos/seafood, fried icecream, and the wide range of tapas/pinxos. I'm surprised to hear that spain is not known for its food. You have to go to the Basque part of Spain - you'll change your mind! They are very proud of their cuisine and ARE known throughout the world for their food and wine.
Katrina <email>
USA Fri 12/03/2004
vegetarian food in evora, portugal
In Evora, Portugal look for tasty, inexpensive vegetarian food at the Jardim do Cha in Largo Dr. Mario Chico, at the rear of the main cathedral and near the Temple of Diana. Walk into the courtyard and enjoy your lunch at a picnic table in a shady grove of orange trees. Soups 1 euro, main dishes (including salad and bread) 3 euros. They also had delicious looking desserts, but we were too full from the meal to sample these.
ellen <email>
new york, NY USA Tue 09/28/2004
Best food in the north.
Spain is more than paella and sherry (jerez)- which you have to try of course, but there's more! Be sure to try authentic sangria and gazpacho in the south. In Spain, especially the north go for seafood-- it's fresh, fresh, fresh! Try anything that involves jamon serrano & jamon iberico(which is like proscuitto, but better), chorizo (unique, sort of pepperonish, but tastier and classier), tortilla (potato omlet) which is much better than it sounds, pollo al ajillo (chicken with garlic), croquetas, and pinxos and tapas which are appetizers of sorts.
My favorite Spanish cuisine is from Asturias: enjoy fabada (bean stew) for dinner, drink sidra (alcoholic sider) and have arroz con leche (rice pudding that is different than what you know) for dessert. You'll be floored!
Joy <email>
Cumberland, NJ USA Thu 09/16/2004
Madrid dining
Madrid tapas tour ? La Oreja de Oro was out of business and Casa Toni is presently a construction site. La Moderna was good, a welcome change from fried tapas and raw fish ? they had ?tacos mejicanos? on the daily menu (not anything like Taco Bell) and a good selection of wines by the glass ? the Plaza Santa Ana area was more inviting than south of Plaza Mayor ? kids playing, vibrant atmosphere. Also enjoyed Sideria La Creacion?s atmosphere, with the buckets to catch the spills from the bartenders pouring the cider from over their heads.
Restaurant Los Galayos in Madrid now has terrazza seating on Plaza Mayor. Excellent 9 euro lunch special including wine ? roast garlic chicken and unfried potatoes for a change.
Robert Scott <email>
Brookfield, WI USA Sun 08/01/2004
Barcelona Tapas Restaurant
I'd like to suggest an excellent tapas restaurant in Barcelona. It is called Celler de Tapas located @ Pl de la Universitat 5 between Plaza Cataluna and Universitat. The food is excellent and yummy and the prices are good. The staff is friendly and helpful.
R. Monje
Atlanta, GA USA Mon 05/31/2004
Basque Sidreria
I am currently studying in San Sebastian, Spain for a semester and my advice to all those who visit the Basque country is to visit a "Sidreria." This is a traditional Basque cider house that serves incredible food like tortilla de bacalao (fish omlet), pescado con pimientos (fish with peppers) and chuleta de buey (a delicious ox or cow steak). You also drink the local cider from enormous oak barrels. The entire experience is wonderful. Both times I have gone there I have met so many Spaniards and Basques and had a great time. If you are ever in San Sebastian, please email me and I will give you the directions to the best Basque Sidreria in all of Pais Vasco.
Bree <email>
San Sebastian, GUIP ES Fri 02/06/2004
"guiso de rabo' in Ronda
My favorite food was oxtail ('rabo'), which I ate with my friend right outside the bullring in Ronda. I guess it was very fresh?
Pimientos de Padr?n seem to be available in the States from a guy in East Palo Alto, California. Have not tried them yet.
Karin Schlanger <email>
Palo Alto, CA USA Thu 02/05/2004