At the Markets of Madrid
This is where most Spanish meals begin…..Usually at the stands full of aromatic herbs, overflowing with colorful vegetables and fresh exotic fruits.
A likely next stop would be the butchers, where the fresh meat you just chose gets fabricated right in front of you and where you might pick some cold cuts for the evenings tapas of sausages: fuet, salsichion, merguez….and of course some thin slices of the countries prized Hamon Iberico.
Seafood might not be on tonight’s menu, but stop by the many pescado stands just so you can visually enjoy the plethora of mejeiones, langoustines, crabineros, little neck clams and fresh bacalao…..Even if this happens to be one of the smaller markets you will still find an amazing variety of fresh fish and seafood…….Spain is famous for it and Madrid has the second largest fresh seafood market in the world (after Tokyo).
And for dessert, if sweet melon and slightly tart berries will not do, you would inevitably have to stop by the corner bakery for a just made lemon tart….and don’t forget to pick out a thick crusted, still warm loaf of bread…you will need it for dipping in the salsa tonight!
