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After having followed Lauren’s blog, Spanish Sabores, for several years, I learned that she had started food tours in select Spanish cities. I was so intrigued by her business idea, and, as a lover and student of Spanish gastronomy myself, I had to try one of the food tours.

In planning my trip to Madrid, I scheduled and paid for the “Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Tour” online, and I received helpful confirmations and reminders until the day of my tour. The instructions were simple to follow: we were to meet in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid to start our food tour. I couldn’t wait.

When I arrived, my guide, Joy, greeted me with friendliness and excitement. There was only one other guest on my tour, so we would have lots of time for questions and getting to know each other as we floated through Madrid’s busy streets. Despite being September, the weather was quite warm. Still, we proceeded on our walking tour, which focused on Madrid’s classic cuisine.

A few of my favorite things:

Variety

The tour started with sweet, moved onto salty, and ended again with sweet. The path through these flavors, however, incorporated various foods and drink that make Spain’s gastronomy so rich and diverse. A few of the foods and drink we explored on the tour included vermouth, cocido (Spanish stew for which Madrid is famous), tortilla de patata (Spanish omelet), turrón (Spanish candy), churros con chocolate (fried dough with chocolate), jamón ibérico (Iberian ham), and sidra (Spanish cider) – to name only a few of the culinary delights!

History

Joy explained Spanish history as it related to Madrid’s plazas and landmarks as well as Spanish wines and cheeses. I loved the mini history lessons associated with each stop on the tour. For example, did you know that the City of Madrid recognizes those businesses that have been operating for more than 100 years with a plaque located right outside of their door? As Joy put it, you know a business’ goods or services are worthwhile if they’ve been around for 100 years.

Taste

The tour lasted about three hours, and we finished with a mouthful of delicious tastes from olives to manchego cheese to deep red Rioja wine. Every bite and sip was unique and flavorful. I returned to at least two of the places we visited on the tour to buy some tasty souvenirs for my plane ride home.

My favorite stop on the tour was the Mercado de San Miguel. This market has rich history as well as delicious variety. There was so much to look at, smell, and taste. I definitely went back for another visit after the food tour!

My guide was patient, articulate, and accommodating. Despite having lived in Spain previously and consumed lots of Spanish food and drink, I still learned quite a few things. The tour satisfied both my desire to learn and taste.

I highly recommend this food tour as an informative and delicious occasion to get to know Madrid, Spain, and Madrid and Spanish gastronomy. My favorite part, though, was exploring the connection that food brings between people. Food and drink are a universal language, and I’m so glad I get to “speak” it with others who enjoy it as well. Cheers, and thank you Devour Madrid Food Tours for a wonderful experience!

All opinions are my own, and I received no compensation for expressing them.

On a short visit to Barcelona, I decided that one of the experiences I wanted to have was a taste of local cuisine. However, because I was making the trip alone due to business reasons, I was also looking for a more interactive way to experience the foods of Barcelona while meeting people. After searching the internet for companies with food tours and cooking classes in Barcelona, I was disappointed that most of their schedules were already full or non-existent due to August being a traditional month of vacation in Spain. When I found Barcelona Cooking, I sent an e-mail right away to inquire about their availability. I immediately received a pleasant reply and confirmation from Tony accommodating my request of a specific date.

When I arrived, Chef Cándido and Emma greeted me with friendliness and enthusiasm. They told me I was the only student in the class that morning, and I was surprised yet delighted that they did not cancel it or charge me more simply because I was the only student. They welcomed me into their clean and well-decorated cooking school, and we got started right away.

Because I attended the class during the month of August, the menu was still set for summer. They offered me wine and bottled water throughout my lesson, and we began to cook! The menu included pan con tomate (toast with tomato juice, garlic, olive oil, and sea salt, typical from Catalonia); tortilla de patata (Spanish potato omelet, served throughout Spain); paella de mariscos (rice with seafood, typical dish for Spanish cities located on the Mediterranean); and crema catalana (Spain’s version of the French crème brûlée).

Chef Cándido explained interesting facts of each dish as we went along and carefully instructed me on how to prepare them. I took the class because of my interest in Spanish cuisine because of my family connections to Spain. I had already had a lot of exposure to Spanish cooking in the past; however, Chef Cándido taught me new information and tips about the Catalan or Spanish roots of the dish and how to prepare it. His attitude the entire time was helpful and positive. I felt as though he truly cared about my not only enjoying myself but also learning. He corrected me when necessary and guided me toward successful completion of all dishes. Whenever I could improve a technique, he kindly offered a suggestion for the future so that I could practice on my own in the US. I asked several questions, and Chef Cándido always had the answer.

When we were finished, I was invited to eat for lunch the entire menu that we had prepared. The dishes were delicious, and my notes reflected new recipes, variations on recipes I had already known, and tips for better cooking experiences in the future. I was impressed at what I had learned in just a few short hours. The new knowledge and ideas for future dishes is invaluable information. But the best part of Barcelona Cooking was the sincerity of the team. Chef Cándido and Emma are wonderful teachers and hosts, and Tony was just as welcoming in corresponding with me through e-mail to set up my class. They are invited to my kitchen and home anytime!

If you would like to experience an encouraging, informative, and delicious cooking experience, I highly suggest you participate in one of the classes at Barcelona Cooking. It offers a unique perspective on Spain and Catalonia that you will not find in a museum or scenic tour. Barcelona Cooking will help you not only learn how to cook traditional dishes, but the experience will also show you true Spanish hospitality!

For more information: www.barcelonacooking.net

All three images above: Barcelona Cooking.

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