For the love of Madrid!
- Veronica Rocha
- Aug 7, 2017
- 2 min read
I’ve always felt an unresistable pull to Europe. Sure, the well preserved antique buildings, beautiful people and mid-day “siestas” are alluring but nothing compares to the energy and familiarity surrounding food.
Mercado San Miguel for example is a bustling indoor market which glass walls and antique styled wooden columns create the sensation that the entire universe has conspired to bring people together to enjoy the company of one another through exquisite yet delightfully simple meals. Nothing appears to take more than a few steps to assemble….black caviar over smoked salmon or black peppered goat cheese on toast with a drizzle of local olive oil paired with Cava. Then, aged “jamon serrano de pata negra” and manchego cheese with basil over a thinly sliced baguette paired with a glass Crianza Rioja wine.
No doubt the food is amazing. But even more so remarkable are the relationships embossed in such a tight space. In our table we mingle and quickly become acquainted with a group of Parisian men visiting Madrid for the weekend. Also immediately to my right are a couple of women taking selfies and showcasing their empty bottles of wine. Feet away is a female artist sketching the face of a clearly well fed man with red wine blush cheeks for a few Euros. More than the sketch, the artist and patron share a moment, a connection through laughter and charm so characteristic of this beautiful place!
Then, it all hits me…food is love and relationships! It’s the common bond that unites us all and the pretext that brings people together day after day. And that is why I love the food of Madrid. It is simple, elegant, delicious, and above all it provides an opportunity to come together with family and strangers under the same roof to enjoy and let it all go until the next supper is to be enjoyed!
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