Sara In-Madrid

Chocolate!

You'll think you've entered the Willy Wonka factory for grown-ups at this amazing chocolate store...there's a bank of truffles, labeled and under mood lighting. They come in all flavors, from hazelnut and sesame to olive oil and black olive. It's definetely on the pricier side, so save it for those special occasions when you REALLY need some chocolate, or give it as a gift to only very special people.

etiquetas: alonso martínez , chocolate , food , gifts , shops , stores

Thai-riffic

If you're tired of tapas, and the greasy Chinese places aren't doing it for you, try Siam, which is near Plaza España and close to Malasaña. The menu del día is €11, and if you go for dinner you can try heaping portions of pad thai with shrimp, chicken or beef. Try some Thai iced tea for a real treat, and if you can't decide what to order, there is an appetizer plate with four selections of dishes that i sperfect to split between two or three. It's not really that crowded, but call in advance just to make sure.

etiquetas: asian , food , international , plaza españa , restaurants , thai

All Sushi, All the Time

OK. If you want sushi, and I mean REALLY want sushi, go to Kindalo. It's got one of those rotating serve-yourself bars, and for a scant €16 you can literally eat until you burst. It's amazing. Every time I go there I probably eat at least €60 worth of sushi, not to mention the noodles, rice, chicken and pork dishes, salads, soups and desserts. The selection isn't that varied, but at that price, who cares? call for reservations, it fills up during the week and you're left standing at the door with your mouth watering.

etiquetas: food , international , restaurants , sushi

The Strongest Drinks in Dallas

In uptown Dallas, you normally can't avoid the throngs of overdressed girls being hit on by investment bankers. That's why the Loon is such a breath of fresh air (although when it's packed it might be more of a gasp of air) The bar is known for some of the stiffest drinks in town. THere are -- shocking! --seats, and people wearing jeans without desinger labels. Meet down-to-earth people, have actual conversations, and eat one of their famous burgers. Hey- at least you won't mind getting some on your t-shirt.

Sara In-Madrid lo descubrió en marzo de 2008

etiquetas: bars , drinks , food , hamburgers , nightlife

Sushi

This is the traditional sushi experience, not Spanish-style sushi as in other places. The food is divine, the atmosphere very zen. Try the hijiki black seaweed salad with grilled tofu, chicken and carrot. The “Sashimi Spanish”, is a plate of bright red ahi tuna and pale hake arrive drenched in a tart lemon-soy sauce and sprinkled with chives.
The prawn and salmon sashimi and California rolls are also amazing, as is the tempura vegetables with seafood. Tempura, when done wrong, is just a fancy word for “ball of fried dough”. Not Nippon’s tempura. This is the most impossibly light, crispy, flavourful combination of courgette, carrots, onion and prawns in Madrid’s city limits. After the heavenly tempura, ginger-infused noodles with veggies and water chestnut are good, but are topped with tiny, formerly frozen salad prawns. I’d have preferred a second (or third) helping of the tempura vegetables.

etiquetas: expensive , food , restaurants , sushi

Mexican Food

First of all, this is the first Mexican place I’ve been to that gives you free chips and salsa right off the bat. (There might be more, but I haven’t found them.) Points in my book right away. La Taqueriá de Birrä has two locations; we went to the one in the secluded Plaza de la Comendadoras. It’s got a great terrace, lots of space and not too much noise.
The menu is huge; for starters there are four kinds of quesadillas and quesos alone. We’re not complaining, though. It’s nice to have a big selection.
We had a margarita to start, which was hand-shaken at our table (My friend is an ex-bartender, she assures me it was properly done.) It was really strong but had a smooth, sharp taste. There are also six different Mexican beers on the menu, if tequila isn’t your thing.
To start, we chose the quesadillas with flor de calabaza; I couldn’t actually taste the flor de calabaza because of all the melted cheese that oozed out. (Again, not complaining. I love cheese.)
We picked the tamales with pico de gallo and the enchiladas Rancheras with mole. (Entreés between €8-10). The tamales were perfect, and the presentation is cool; there are four, and each have a different little sauce on them which is then smothered by amazing pico de gallo. The chicken enchiladas with mole sauce were also really good – the mole was sweet but not spicy – but were covered in cheese, which even for me was a bit overwhelming.
For dessert, we wanted the fried platanos, but they were out. Good thing, though, because we might not have gotten to try the Georgina cake, the house specialty. It was amazing; a homemade light, fluffy cake layered with creamy lemon and drizzled with raspberry sauce. Amazing. We also had the crepes de cajeta, which were swimming in dulce de leche and very rich.
The portion sizes were perfect, and the place is lively and fun. It would be a great place to have a birthday or get-together (just not with all your Spanish friends if you don’t want to shell out for everyone’s dinner!)

etiquetas: food , malasaña , margaritas , mexican , nightlife , restaurants

This is one of those great little Aladdin’s cave type places that once you’ve discovered it, you don’t want to tell anyone about it in case it becomes too popular and loses its charm. But what the hell. In the small front room you can sit on cushions and dine at low tables in true Moroccan style. The walls are whitewashed and there’s Moroccan paraphernalia all over the place: trumpets hang above the bar, lamps give off a cosy glow and African music completes the set up. Even the wait staff are in traditional African dress and you’ll feel as though you’ve left Spain completely. The food is deliciously infused with herbs and spices and their scent fills the air. The hummus and aubergine cream are divine starters, and the falafel is fresh and slightly crunchy on the outside and moist and aromatic on the inside. Finish off with a traditional mint tea and a selection of sweet pastries.

etiquetas: arabian , food , restaurants

La Catrina is a jumpin’ little joint in Malasaña, which is intimate and crowded, like any good restaurant should be. It’s been around for seven years, and is a favourite among the locals to stop in for a drink. This is the place to go for a few snacks and delightful cocktails — there are as many drinks as food items and five types of tequila alone — so it might be best to stick with appetisers and cocktails (€3-6). The margaritas are delicious: super foamy, but not frozen, with a kick at the end and just the right amount of salt. All the menu items are €7, not the cheapest meal, but at least there’s no hidden extras. Besides, it’s a really fun place; there are tons of cool dolls and masks to look at, and there’s good music and pretty people. So if you stick to the drinks and a few small plates, you won’t be disappointed.

etiquetas: food , malasaña , mexican , restaurants

Madrid is reputed to have the second-best fish market in the world after Japan. You can put that theory to the test at 19 Sushi Bar, where they’ll serve you up some of the raw stuff. Chef Álex Moranda, originally from Alicante, discovered a passion for sushi while living in Japan and has brought that enthusiasm back with him. Look out for his diminutive, smiling figure slicing and dicing at the sushi bar. Don’t miss the house speciality: sashimi of kobe meat -- beef reared on beer and regular massages.

etiquetas: food , international , japan , restaurants , sushi

This two-level restaurant is managed by Sonia, a helpful host who speaks Korean, Spanish and English. Like many traditional Korean restaurants, Seoul serves plenty of kimchi -- spicy, pickled cabbage -- as well as pickled cucumbers, seaweed and bean sprouts. Try the muhl nang myun: buckwheat noodles served in a chilled beef broth -- perfect for the summer months. And to pass the time while you enjoy your meal, see if you can spot some of the dishes you’re eating on the Korean soap operas that play on the flat-screen television in front of you.

etiquetas: food , international , korean , restaurants