Snacks

Spain is not a country I immediately associate with ice cream, as I normally do with Italy and its gelati. But I’m crazy about ice cream, so it’s impossible for me not to stare at ice cream parlours and especially, at anyone who’s eating an ice cream (is that even doable?).  I love it when it’s prepared in a traditional, homemade-like fashion, especially with natural fruits or vegetables. That’s why, whenever I’m close to Moncloa, I try to take a detour to the nearby Los Alpes, one of the (if not the) oldest ice cream parlours in Madrid.

Los Alpes have been in the business of refreshing Madrilenians with their homemade-style ice cream since 1950. Nowadays, their huge selection of interesting flavors just makes me gape when I look at it, and poses me the challenging question of “which one will it be today?”. Last time, I tried the banana with dulce de leche and macadamia nuts flavored ice cream, which was exquisite.

Poncelet is a specialized cheese store which has gone to great lengths and efforts to unite a combination of the best national and international cheeses under one roof.

In a country that has an astonishing selection of cheeses and is protective of their national produce, getting an authentic Camembert de Normandie or an Aged Comte required diligent searching all over town. More often than not it ended in failure, and it was absolutely unthinkable to try to obtain a triple cream brie such as Brillat Savarin. However, with Poncelet I can enjoy all of these options and more.

Besides their overwhelming amount of cheeses, they also have other lactose products, such as bottled fresh milk and organic yogurts, and last but not least, for the ice cream connoisseurs, there is a small selection of high grade ice creams with flavors ranging from Mozzarella de bufala to Pinot Noir with Parmegiano Reggiano shavings.

One of the most outstanding characteristics when I visit is their disposition to be of help and their customer service. It is easy to get side tracked with so many options, however they always manage to help me choose correctly or give a recommendation which is generally in sync with my taste.

As someone that loves to indulge in cheeses, I can’t think of a better place to pick up of few exquisite cheeses, open a bottle of fine wine and enjoy a lovely evening at home. 

If there is one thing I love about Madrid it’s going out for tapas. Now there are different forms of tapa-ing, first you have the general idea of ordering small dishes at a small or reduced price, and then you have the form, which I like best, which is going up to the counter, ordering a drink and getting a small dish or snack to accompany your drink for free.

Most foreigners are astonished when you say “for free” and ask how. But truthfully the tapa is generally included in the price of your drink and you will notice that in some places the fluctuation in prices depends on the quality or quantity of your freebie.

Regarding the how, the real answer is “where”, you need to know where to go for generous portions of free tapas with every drink. One place is La Petisqueria, I love coming here, ordering a glass of wine or a beer, and getting a generous plate of roasted potatoes, chorizo, and other finger foods to accompany my drink.

When I am not in the mood for a full on meal or just like to hang out and socialize with my friends in a relaxed atmosphere, I always end up here. We know that with a round of drinks we’re not going to go hungry any time soon.  It’s one of those places that us locals like to say, “you eat just with a drink”.

Finally the weather is getting warming, spring is setting in and we are starting to leave our sweaters at home. To me that is a sure sign of one thing, it’s gelato time!!!!

My first stop for gelato is the Italian franchise Gelateria La Romana, now there is another location on 48 Hortaleza street. However the very first one was opened in 155 Santa Engracia street which is where I discovered La Romana and for some reason my taste buds always bring me back to the original locations to get my gelato fix.

One thing not to overlook in comparison to other ice cream parlors or gelaterias, is that they make their gelato in sutu, it is not brought in from an industrial zone, nor produced by the milliards and blindly distributed around the globe. You can just see the gelato stainless steel machines churning slowly in the back room as they prepare and produce their next batch of frozen goodness.

I understand that flavors are very personal, however I cannot miss out getting their pistachio gelato during any visit! It is a must, with a real pistachio taste, and a long and pleasant aftertaste that gives your senses the flavors of a genuine Italian product.

My sweet tooth generally gets the best of me, I’m constantly craving something sweet, gummy bears, cookies, ice cream or better yet a big slice of moist homemade cake.  

Mür is what you call a multitask cafe & lounge, they’re open everyday serving breakfasts, lunch and dinners, mainly composed of soups, sandwiches and salads. And during the evening they’re a cocktail bar offering patrons excellent and well prepared drinks.  

However the main reason why I love this cafe is for their home made sweets, they are incredible! As you walk up to the counter my eyes are wide open as I try to decide which one I want.  

I love their oreo cheesecake and their carrot cake, after trying out quite a number of them, I have to say it is one of my favorites in Madrid.

The portions are generally big, the cake is moist, and they’re generous about the icing, I can assure you that few places pack as much yummy icing as they do in Mür. They brûlée the icing giving it a beautiful and delectable tan color, that just makes it so much more appealing! 

An additional plus is the brit vintage look the cafe has, making it charming and cosy in the afternoons, and and last and I know very important, they offer free wifi. What’s not to love about Mür Cafe.