Parrilla Alhambra
Where? Parrilla Alhambra (Centro, Madrid, Spain) Map
When? Thursday May 25, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Spanish
It's been another hot day in Madrid. I took a hiatus from food blogging yesterday because I was having a bit of a sad, being all alone in Spain, but it's my last night in the capital city so I have to eat something good to remember it by. I'm here slightly before rush hour and this place is already buzzing with activity and noise.
Sangria and Tapas
I've got a sangria and some free chorizo while I wait for my food. Why are the Spanish so good with sangria? I could do this all the time. The waiter sees me rudely picking at the sausage with my fingers and turns my attention to the toothpicks by the pepper and salt. Oops. What do they call a faux pas in Spanish?
Entree
Garlic prawns
Both my entree and mains arrive at the same time. The prawns are sizzling in boiling garlic oil and it's delicious when I dip the bread in to soak it up. The prawns are a bit too salty by themselves but with the bread it's perfect.
Mains
Iberian pork
I try some of the pork before it goes cold. I have to admit, it does not look appetising, even bordering on tacky. However, it's somewhat tasty and smokey, but perhaps a bit dry. A nice sauce or some salad with oil would have made this excellent. I've got some leftover oil from the prawns...yep, much better. Some bits are a bit burnt and and I'm not a fan of the rock salt on the pork. It's okay, nothing exceptional. I probably won't eat all the fries.
It dawns on me that there is an identical restaurant next door at number 9 (this one is at number 7) also called Alhambra. One of the Google reviews I read mentioned this. Poop. I was not supposed to go to this one. The menus look the same though. Oh well, the deed is done and I'm full of pork, prawn and most importantly, sangria. I'll never know the difference.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:06am on Saturday June 10, 2017 :: 0 comments :: 
La Plateria
Where? La Plateria (Centro, Madrid, Spain) Map
When? Tuesday May 23, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Tapas
A short walk from the massive El Retiro park, this place has a large outdoor area perfect for people watching. I've spent too much time outdoors today, and the sun is ludicrously strong, so I'm sitting in the cooler indoors and I've got an Iberian platter to myself.
To be honest, I went to this other cafe earlier but after I ordered my sangria, I realised they didn't do dinner service. Given that sangria in most places is only €3, I am doing double sangria today. Let's see how badly this turns out.
Mains
Iberian ham and assorted cheese platter
I have in front of me a veritable feast of cured meat, cheese, olives and bread. It's very reminiscent of my Italian food journeys, but the cured meat includes, of course, that peppery Spanish chorizo and that strong, salty Iberico ham. It's very good, brought together by the cheese as well as the olive oil in the bread.
It's a basic meal but it's done the job and I'm quite happy. I probably won't have dessert on the account of the sangria, but I'm quite full anyway. Also not sloshed. I'm feeling good.
Posted by Jeremy at 10:59am on Saturday June 10, 2017 :: 0 comments ::