Basic HTML Version
MADR ID
FEATURE
“Paradis Madrid is a
favourite with MPs,
being close to the
Parliament building”
CÉSAR LOPEZ, 38, WRITES A COOKERY
BLOG,
Homefoodmadrid.blogspot.com.
He signed up with Eat with a Local
(eatwithalocal.com) as he enjoys cooking
for other people. But in the evening he is
happy to take some time out to share some
of his favourite places to indulge.
We started at Mercado San Antón
(mercadosananton.com), another of
Madrid’s renovated markets and a one-
stop shop for all things food-related – on
the ground floor there is a supermarket,
the next floor up houses beautifully-
presented food stalls, on another floor
are tapas-style stalls where you can eat
food from all around the world and on the
top floor is a more formal restaurant and
outdoor bar. An open-mike event which
was on that day and wherever we went,
singers and bands were performing.
We then walked to the new Terraza
Cibeles – an open-air rooftop bar next to
Palacio Cibeles restaurant, atop the newly
renovated council building, for fabulous
mojitos and stunning city views, before
heading for Paradis Madrid restaurant
(restauranteparadismadrid.es). It’s just
round the corner from Congreso de los
Diputados – Madrid’s main parliament
building and a favourite of Spain’s
members of parliament, César tells me.
The restaurant has its own farm near
Barcelona where it sources much of its
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2012
WIZZ MAGAZINE
59
Vicki Edmunds
Vicki Edmunds, who set
up Eat with a Local, says:
“The idea for the site came
when I was on holiday
with my daughter Corrie
in Slovenia. It was a house
swap and Corrie opened
the cupboards and said
‘Wouldn’t it be interesting to
eat with these people?’
“We went online to see if
there were any sites which
put travellers in touch with
local people for eating.
There didn’t seem to be – so
I set one up!”
eatwithalocal.com
food to ensure its quality. We started with
a plate of its award-winning Iberian ham
(Jamón ibérico de bellota tres procendencias)
alongside various other tapas (including
four different types of tomatoes from the
restaurant’s farm) and then a rice dish with
a kind of vegetarian paella (
Arroz bomba
con verduras de nuestro huerto y setas
),
washed down with some fantastic Rioja.
I was only in Madrid for a couple of
days but left with a really good idea of
places to go next time I go back – and
there really is no need for people to eat
alone if they don’t want to.
Catherine stayed at the Ibis Hotel Las Ventas,
rooms from €69. (accorhotels.com)
TOP:
THE MARKET OF SAN
ANTÓN IS A LIVELY START
TO THE DAY, AND OFFERS
A BIT OF EVERYTHING
GETTY , ALAMY