fall 2009
celebratedliving.com
46
Madrid
fOOD
Global Gourmet Guide
Over the last decade, Madrid has emerged as amajor gastronomic city.
“Madrid is a fantastic place to eat these days,” says famed Spanish chef
José
Andrés
, who starred in the 26-part public television series
Made in Spain
and dominates theWashington, D.C., restaurant scene. “Even as recently
as 15 years ago, Madridwas behind the times. But today, the city’s energy
can be felt in the great restaurants andmarkets all over town.”
Eat
World-famous chefs and innovative
fare are on the menu in Madrid.
Catalonian chef Santi Santamaria
works magic at
sAntceloni
(www.
restaurantesantceloni.com), which is
located insideacellar, topsoutat just50
guests, and isconsideredbymany tobe
thecity’sfinestrestaurant.Chefferran
adrià, ofworld-famous
el Bulli
inCat-
alonia, regularly flies in to oversee his
Madridoutpost,
lAterrAzAdelcAsino
(
), set in a
grand 19th-century building (snag a
terrace table for panoramic views).
and the two-Michelin-star
lA Broche
(labroche.com) addsadashof alchemy
to the table, with such dishes as raw
seafoodand seawater gelée.
Dr ink
a late-night townwheremost revelry
begins at midnight, Madrid watering
holes are ubiquitous. located onCalle
de laReina inthe livelylalatinaneigh-
borhood, “
del diego
is one ofmy favor-
ite
coctelerias
in all of the city,” says
andrés (011-34-91-523-3106). Come
summertime, andrés suggests a visit
to the beer gardens in the
PlAzA de
sAntA AnA
. “There’s nothing better
than sitting outside on a warm night
sippinga
caña
[analcoholicdrinkmade
fromsugarcane].”
Sho p
On Sunday visit
el rAstro
, Madrid’s
massive flea market near the Plaza
Mayor. “and don’t miss walking the
very
pijo
[posh]
BArriodesAlAmAncA
,”
saysandrés. It’saneighborhoodcombo-
platterofhaute-coutureoutlets,private
art galleries, and fine-dining restau-
rants.With everything from colanders
to pizza pans, “
el AlAmBique
is one of
myfavoritekitchenstores intheworld,”
ravesandrés (alambique.com).
VEnt ur E out
King Phillip II’s former residence, the
monasteryof
elescoriAl
, located inSan
lorenzo de El Escorial in the Sierra de
GuadarramaMountains, isthe idealday
trip fromMadrid. “Whileyou’re there,”
says andrés, “visit
el chAroles
for a
traditional
cocido
— a stew of chick-
peas, cabbage, pork, and chicken —
where each item is served individually
as amulticourse feast” (011-34-91-890-
5975).
clockwise from top: chef José Andrés; fine dining at chef Ferran Adrià’s la terraza del casino; the kitchen store el Alambique;
santceloni, a restaurant located inside a wine cellar
