A long weekend in Madrid to discover a lavish Chef’s Table Tour is thoroughly recommended by Jamie Ndah who took a trip to Spain to sample this gastronomic experience.
A long weekend is an ideal length of time to explore and enjoy everything this luxury chef’s table tour has to offer. I’ve always had great affection for Madrid and it has been a number of years since I last visited this fabulous city. Needless to say, I was super excited at being reacquainted with this fine destination once again.
My flight from London was approximately two hours, and before I knew it, I was in sunny Madrid. This was followed by a swift and efficient transfer to my hotel from the airport which was seamless. It reminded me again of Madrid and its elegance, from graceful boulevards, wide manicured gardens, great architecture and chic designer stores, it felt good to be back in this magical metropolis.
I was staying at the prestigious Villa Magna which is a Superior Luxury Five Star Hotel located in the Golden Mile, which is Madrid’s most expensive area.
The hotel boasts 150 rooms and suites, four gastronomic spaces, a wellness area and a gym to name but a few attractions. It’s also blessed with a prime location for those guests wishing to take the short walk to visit Paseo de la Castellana or the fashionable Serrano Street.
This gorgeous outpost is spacious, radiant and adorned with contemporary furnishings such as Empire chairs, Bauhaus concepts and Chinese screens that work well together to create a welcoming and palatial atmosphere.
For the next few days, my home is a Grand Prestige room which is situated on the fifth floor. This handsome looking room oozes class and sophistication with a warm and welcoming ambience. The ample sized room furnished in a mahogany wood finish came complete with a comfortable king sized bed, a sitting area with a work desk, walk-in wardrobes, 37′ flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, and a fully stocked mini bar to name but a few delights. A light and airy marble bathroom with both a bathtub and a rain shower to choose from, finished off this relaxing room perfectly.
My Chef’s Table Tour expedition began with a trip to San Anton Market which is situated in the trendy neighbourhood of Chueca which is one of the most vibrant and energetic areas of Madrid. This uber cool district is famed for its small boutique designer shops, colourful facades, laid-back restaurants and bars. The ultramodern San Anton market offers a variety of high-quality seasonal products across three levels.
I really enjoyed meandering around this notable building looking and sampling the different ingredients I would need to cook a tasty Fideuà later, (a seafood dish originally from the coast of Valencia) think paella, and even more similar to arròs a banda, but with noodles instead of rice.
The main ingredients I would need from the market for this enticing fish dish would be pasta noodles and a variety of shellfish, shrimps, crayfish and squid. Plus, I would be preparing a traditional Paella with Ribs and Presca Iberica, Sobrasada Toast and Bacalao al Ajorriero, so I was also on the lookout for some bomba rice, chicken broth, Iberia pork ribs, a sliced baguette and some unsalted cold too.
This really was a fun way of learning and experiencing Spanish food culture and I highly recommend that all foodies go and visit San Anton market which is nothing short of an urban produce paradise.
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