The
meseta
|
Madrid,
Castile - Leon, Castile - La Mancha and La Rioja
Castilla (pronounce Kas-tee-yah, in english "Castile", ) is the land of roast meat. Suckling pig and lamb roasted to tender perfection by an asador. Segovia is a good place to sample these dishes, or one of the small towns in the area, such as Sepúlveda, Turégano or Pedraza. Pedraza (picture below) is a particularly attractive hilltop fortified town with castle and an attractive main square. Such roast meat can be found closer to home (for me!), "Parador" in Reigate, Surrey (UK) for instance produce a very passable dish of suckling lamb or pig, but for the total experience make a pilgrimage to "Casa Botin" founded in 1725 and probably the oldest restaurant in the world. Casa Botin, Cuchilleros 17 Madrid phone 266 42 17. Almagro (top right) has a charming green painted Plaza Mayor containing an ancient theatre, Corral de Comedias, and several tapas bars. We liked El Bar del Gordo, ("bar of the fat man", and he was!). The upmarket restaurant El Corregidor (926 860 648) is just off the Plaza Mayor at Jeronimo Ceballos 2. If you cannot get a booking (you will need to book ahead) they have an interesting Aladdin's cave of a bar on the ground floor. Don't forget to buy some of the local speciality, pickled baby aubergines, from one of the shops. The Parador is about 100 metres away. Tablas de Daimiel - a walk and a typical country restaurant.
Madrid
|
||
Ferdinand and Isabela decreed that every Spanish town should have a Plaza Major and Madrid is no exception. British towns and cities would almost certainly have benefited from a similar piece of town planning to give a focal point and central open space where townspeople can congregate, stroll and eat. | |||
See also :- CheeseWineSpanish cookery booksCookery reference books Walking in Spain | Walking in Britain | Spanish photos | Spanish pronunciation & general guidebooks | Andalucia | Asturias | Basque Country | Canary Islands | Castile Catalonia & Balearics | Extremadura | Galicia | Navarre | Valencia | Tapas | Glossary | Books |
|||