Spanish cuisine is praised, praised and celebrated all over the world, and chefs like Andoni Luis Aduriz and Dani García show that both Catalan and Basque cuisine are exciting. While many Spanish chefs, including Ferran Adrià and José Andrés, have created their names for themselves by using molecular food to reshape food, many self-proclaimed foodies will tell you that in Spain, in Spain, you don’t have to bother investing in a heavy tasting menu, you want to enjoy tapas when you want to experience the best Spanish food.
Originating in Spain, Spanish snacks have entered kitchens around the world, from New York, Tokyo to London and Shanghai. It is reported that the earliest mention of the Spanish snacks dates back to the 13th century, when the Spanish king Alfonso X recovered from severe illness by eating a small pinch of food. The king obviously fell in love with eating and drinking at the same time, and thus ordered all taverns to provide food with drinks.
But what exactly is a Spanish snack? Snacks are small plates and snacks or foods to enjoy at any time of the day; classics include Gildas (skewers of olives and anchovies), fried chicken (bread crumbs and fried meat and cheese balls), and Gambas Al Ajillo (garlic shrimp). For many Spanish chefs, snacks are more than just one food. They are a way of life. “This is how we contact – TAPA is a conversation – form, shared and spontaneous,” smokehouse chef Dani García and Madrid’s Dani Brasserie told observers. It’s essentially a social experience, with no rules on how to “tapear” or go out for snacks. It could be a simple move to go to a pre-dinner drink with friends or enjoy informal meals with colleagues to celebrate the end of the work week – whatever it takes, there will always be a place and time for a snack in Spain.
Madrid is one of the best places for snacks in Spain, with new and new spots in a city gathering together. In the capital, you will find some of Spain’s oldest taverns still in operation, including Lhardy and Bodega de la Ardosa (try artichokes in Spanish olive oil if you visit during the season) to serve traditional Spanish snacks. And Cava Baja, a tourist street in a Latino neighborhood known for its Spanish tapas, but isn’t always the top choice city’s best food tour. Elsewhere around Madrid, a new young chef pioneer opened a restaurant that placed his own spin on classical and avant-garde snacks like Gofio, like Gofio, a restaurant, a restaurant that serves bite-sized tapas-like dishes in the city centre as a tasting menu. Madrid, which was not necessarily considered a food city in the same way other Spanish regions like Barcelona, has now become a culinary destination, and the Spanish snack culture has led the charge. Below, check out the best Spanish snack bars in Madrid for an unexpected and improved experience.
