The Mercato de San Miguel has long served as central Madrid’s one-stop “farmer’s” market. I first visited here years ago when locals dropped in for fresh ingredients for a full meal. Here one can find fresh and smelly fish, harry legs of Iberian ham, countless bottles of wine, fresh and squeaky-clean vegetables and all the extras as well.
Arriving at the Mercato de San Miguel this year I found an enhanced market with the new additions of many vendors selling tapas to eat right away. Last night we decided to have a movable feast of tapas and drinks at the market. About forty of us descended on the market at 7:00 pm and munched and drank our way through dinner in a four hour moveable feast. What a great way to experience Madrid and get right into the heartbeat of the local culture.
Vivian found what she dubbed “the most amazing sweets ever.” A warm center of caramel surrounded by puff pastry and loaded with chocolate and cream topping.
Kayla and friends found more desserts that were pretty amazing as well.
My friend Chris and I enjoyed a plate of french fries at the hotel bar before we went to the market. Once there, he did not realize I was paying for their tapas hunting! Finally, with money in hand, Chris found somethings a little better than that plate of fries.
For 2,3,or 4 euros you can get a tasty selection of OLIVES. I enjoyed olives stuffed with calamari, cheese and ham. They also had one variety that tasted smokey and herbal. The flavor was so intense I could not get enough of them!
The Jamon Iberico is great. There are several varieties ranging in price from 5 to 16 euros per kilo. The best variety is Jamon Bellota which is thinly sliced from the leg of a black Iberian pig fed only a diet of acorns and allowed to roam freely. You have to purchase at least 500 grams (about 9 euros) which will feed 4 people.
The cheesemonger’s kiosk was a popular place. For about 6 euros I asked the vendor to assembly six selections of her favorite cheeses. I don’t know what I got, but all of them were tasty! I chose one variety on my own and boy did I make a mistake. It was a mixture of sheep and goat cheese and when I pointed to it, the vendor wrinkled her nose in disgust. I don’t know why I decided to get it anyway!
So, if you happen to find yourself in Madrid make a point to enjoy and experience the Mercato de San Miguel. It’s on Calle Major between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, just around the corner from Plaza Major.
Charlotte and I are vacationing in the Cinque Terre. We love this place and seem to come back year after year. There are many places to stay while in the “five villages,” but we enjoy Riomaggiore the best. Several years ago I discovered The Cinqueterre Residence, a simple, family-owned and modern group of rooms and apartments on a hill above the town center. Our apartment has a simple dual rangetop, frig, microwave and comes stocked with pots, pans and dishes.
So, last night I cooked a meal, and got Charlotte to shoot some video… here is my PRIMI PIATTI course.
Charlotte and I are vacationing in the Cinque Terre. We love this place and seem to come back year after year. There are many places to stay while in the “five villages,” but we enjoy Riomaggiore the best. Several years ago I discovered The Cinqueterre Residence, a simple, family-owned and modern group of rooms and apartments on a hill above the town center. Our apartment has a simple dual rangetop, frig, microwave and comes stocked with pots, pans and dishes.
So, last night I cooked a meal, and got Charlotte to shoot some video… here is my ANTIPASTI course.
Charlotte and I spent Valentine’s Day in New York City. Valentine’s dinner found us at Morton’s Steakhouse for a pretty prodictable dinner with a good filet and an amazing souffle to top it off. However, I decided to venture out and try some new places for our remaining days in the city.
La Petite Auberge is definitely out of the way and off the beaten path. I discovered this little French gem while waiting on Charlotte to complete her shopping adventures. Having nothing to do but while away my time I began looking for a traditional French restaurant with moderate prices.
Arriving at the restaurant after our walk in the sleet and snow we were welcomed by a warm host who was expecting us and had our table ready. The restaurant probably seats about sixty people at fifteen white tableclothed tables. The walls were constructed of amber-stained pine planks and lent an air of old-worldness to the the place. We elected to get the prix fixe menu at a very reasonable cost of about $25 per person.
The waiter and his assistant were attentive all evening and were most helpful in moving the dinner along at our pace… not too fast. The menu was traditional French… escargot, soup, salad, beef burgundy, duck, rabbit, lamb and the like. After studying the menu we both decided to get escargot for our starter and the confit of duck for our main course. In retrospect we should have ordered two different menus, but not tonight. We also ordered a bottle of Pommard to wash it all down with.
The meal was exceptional. The escargot, served our of it shells, was garlicky and buttered just right. The duck was as good as any I’ve had in Paris. We each got a thigh, leg, breast and wing. Way too much meat, but I was not complaining. The thigh/leg combo was cooked just right with the tender meat falling off the bone. The breast was fried in the same manner and was a little over-down and dry for my liking, but still tasty. The main course was serves with french cut green beans and a wild rice mix. There was desert as well, but I could not eat but a few bits of my chocolate mousse due to being full already.
La Petite Auburge receives my highest recommendation for a traditional and rustic French dinner. If you are looking for a little bit of rural France in the big city, don’t miss out on the opportunity to dine here!
I was happy to visit with my friend, Hermann Weidenger, at his hotel in Ruette, Austria. After a long day of driving and touring the king’s castles, it was good to see a welcoming smile and familiar face.
Hotel Ernberg-Zum Dorfwirt, is located less than twenty minutes from the castle area in Reutte, Austria. All the rooms are decorated in the traditional Tyrolian style with lots of wood paneling and comfy beds covered with warm duvets. There is not a bad room in the hotel, so visit here with confidence.
Hermann’s hotel restaurant is very popular, so you would do well to get a reservation as soon as you arrive in town. Luckily, we obtained a reservation at 6 p.m. on a Saturday night, during the height of the Christmas season. The meal was wonderful! The only negative was the smoke due to Austria not banning smoking inside.
It seemed that beef was the speciality of the evening, so both Charlotte and I ordered it. I had a filet and Charlotte had a T-bone. Both came with vegetables, french fries and plenty of special homemade pepper sauce. The entire dining experience was great, but jet-lag began to catch up with us half-way through dinner. We skipped desert and were sound asleep in bed before eight o’clock!
I’ve been dining at Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, Florida, since 1984. On that first visit, it was Roger, a friend and gracious host, who walked my “good buddies” and me through the experience of fine dining. The service, food, wine and desert were amazing. I’ve gone to Bern’s at least once a year since that first visit.
Dining at Bern’s is a experience, one which you must make the main event of the evening. I plan for at least four hours to savor the food and ambiance. Mike was our waiter way back in 1984, and to this day I still request that he be my waiter. He won’t steer you wrong. Mike is very knowledgeable on their wine selections, as well as abreast in making menu suggestions. I’ve tried many cuts of their dry-aged steaks and have come to settle on their chateaubriand most often. Order it medium-rare and it will melt in your mouth! The steak comes with all of the fixings: soup, salad, a potato, fresh veggies and their amazing sauteed carrots all at one fixed price (about $40 per person). The price can rise steeply depending on your taste for beverages other than water, tea, soda and coffee.
Don’t forget to tour the kitchen and wine cellar after your dinner. Then, waddle your way up to the desert room and indulge on a huge selection of sweets, coffee, desert wines and digestifs.
Over the years I have taken many people to Bern’s to dine with me. The table has turned since 1984, for I am now the “wise old man” showing my friends the ins and outs of fine dining at Bern’s. Thanks Roger and Mike for making dining an experience!
Arriving at the Mercato de San Miguel this year I found an enhanced market with the new additions of many vendors selling tapas to eat right away. Last night we decided to have a movable feast of tapas and drinks at the market. About forty of us descended on the market at 7:00 pm and munched and drank our way through dinner in a four hour moveable feast. What a great way to experience Madrid and get right into the heartbeat of the local culture.
My friend Chris and I enjoyed a plate of french fries at the hotel bar before we went to the market. Once there, he did not realize I was paying for their tapas hunting! Finally, with money in hand, Chris found somethings a little better than that plate of fries.
