Eating Madrid

Though the focus was far from food on this past week's trip to Madrid, there were surely still ample amounts of it to enjoy.
The focus was instead on my beautiful cousin, Shannon marrying Manu, her Madrileño love. After 'surprising' Shannon a few days before the wedding, we hit the ground running for a week's long adventure in one of the more festive areas of the world, Madrid, Spain.

Weddings, especially the weddings of very close friends and family, are one of the greatest treasures in life. Truly. That they bring generations together to celebrate the past and future is a standard delight of all weddings but knowing the bride or the groom well makes the whole affair all the greater.
I can't help but wish they were more common but alas, it is their rarity that makes them so special.

Shannon and Manu's wedding was no different. A very quick and heartfelt city hall wedding ceremony was followed by an (I'm going to go ahead and use the adjective) epic celebration.

No doubt, the 3+ hour, 6+ course wedding luncheon at Caldea Restaurante in Rascafria was the highlight of all the meals preceding and proceeding it in Spain. The salad of romaine hearts, peppers & tuna was delicious, simple and beautiful. The dessert platters were nothing short of decadent...something out of a mid century Wayne Thiebaud painting and/or a child's fantasy of 'dessert'.

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At nearly every meal, there was the requisite plate of the following: jamòn imberico, triangles of a various cheese & croquetas. It is a real wonder folks aren't heavier in Spain, though they do eat far less of everything than I for one am used to.
Padron peppers and fried eggplant with salmorejo (red sauce) were culinary highlights and while I can and plan to make both at home on the regular, it was somehow better there.

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Another memorable meal was Sunday's paella excursion to El Caldero, in Shannon & Manu and Maria's barrio. In addition to several starter plates, we ordered a platter of traditional paella and of squid ink paella. It would be impossible to say which was better because I instantly went into a transcendental state at first bite. I. MUST. MASTER. THIS. RECIPE.

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Yet another treat was trying the salchichón de chocolate prepared by Mari Carmen, Shannon's new mother-in-law. As I understood, this confection is made with chocolate, nuts, smashed-up cookies and butter and then prepared in the shape of a sausage, refrigerated to harden, and sliced to serve. Though there was a bit of a language barrier, Mari Carmen agreed to share the recipe with me so that I can prepare it properly and in turn share it with all of you!...more on that in time.

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If the above photos weren't enough, here's a few more of my favorite edible moments in the delicious community of Madrid!...

I'm ready to go back and repeat it all over again...VAMOS!

Spanish Tortilla with a Madrileno

Components of the Spanish Tortilla

Spanish tortilla, or 'tortilla de patatas' as it is known in Spain, resembles in no way, shape or form a Mexican tortilla. Rather, the Spanish tortilla consists of four simple ingredients: potatoes, olive oil, eggs and onions. 
A dash of milk and a sprinkling of salt is added toward the end for good measure.
These plain and simple ingredients that are in most kitchens at most times combine and transform into the most decadent, delicious and versatile dish around.
I've attempted to replicate the Spanish tortilla in my domestic kitchen several times and even once while camping, each time to varying success but they never tasted as authentic as in Spain.

Cooking w. our visiting Madrileno, Manu

My cousin, Shannon came to visit this past weekend with her boyfriend, Manu, who was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. Naturally, I decided to take advantage of the real Madrileno knowledge of our houseguest and put the Madrileno to work!
To be honest, I was secretly ecstatic Manu was willing to share the trade secrets of his mother's prized tortilla recipe. Upon preparing the dish, I learned no two tortilla recipes are the same and 'my mother's is better than yours' is the general opinion throughout the country.
Spanish Tortilla is often (deceivingly) translated into English as Spanish Omelet but the beauty and focus of the tortilla is all about the potatoes.

peeled potatoes sliced 1/8" thin

In order to accomplish the exquisite, oil-infused potato flavor of the tortilla, the potatoes are peeled, sliced 1/8" thin, then fully submerged in olive oil and cooked at a very low heat. 
In this way, the potatoes loosen up slowly, absorbing the aromatic olive oil along the way. 

Olive oil on very low heat

add peeled, sliced potatoes to the low-heat olive oil

next add the finely diced onions

Heat the oil to just above room temperature then add peeled, sliced potatoes. 
Add diced onions 1-2 minutes later. 

lightly beat eggs & a dash of milk in a SS bowl

oil-infused potatoes, ready to mix with eggs

drain potatoes and add to eggs

quickly mix potato mixture with eggs

While the potatoes are cooking, crack 4-5 eggs into a stainless steel bowl. 
Add a dash of milk and lightly beat the eggs. 
Once the potatoes are soft to the touch, scoop the oil-soaked potatoes into the eggs. The heat of the potatoes will slightly cook the eggs so work quickly to mix the eggs and potatoes mixture together. 
Once incorporated, pour the mixture back into the hot NONSTICK skillet pan. A good, nonstick pan is as important to the success of the dish as the potatoes and eggs.

Spanish tortilla setting over the heat

bravely & carefully flipping the tortilla

Within about 5 minutes, the tortilla is ready to be flipped. Use a flat plate, wide enough to cover the pan and bravely flip the tortilla from the pan onto the plate.
Slide the tortilla into the pan once more and cook for a few minutes more to ensure both sides are cooked.

2009 Auteur Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Spanish Tortilla w. baguette

We enjoyed our tortilla for dinner with a warm baguette and a superb Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from Auteur. The cold climate, rocky soil of the Durell Vineyard produces consistently exquisite wines for the best of the best California wineries, Auteur on that shortlist. The crisp, mineral-rich Chard was a delicious contrast to the rich, aromatic tortilla.

Spanish Tortilla as tapas

In Spain, the tortilla is eaten hot, cold or at room temperature any time of day. Often, sliced tortilla is placed into a baguette to make a bocadillo,or Spanish sandwich and it can be found sliced into bite-size pieces and served at any self-respecting tapas bar. 

Butterdate readers know well I fall hard for certain dishes and dream about them long after they are gone. I still dream of a bocadillo I ate every morning I was in Granada, 3 years ago. It consisted simply of a delicate slice of tortilla and a grilled pasilla-like green pepper between a crumbly baguette. Perfection!