A Gourmet Madrid cooking class.
For the uninitiated, the tapas options in Madrid can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Gourmet Madrid, an organization devoted to providing wine and food tourism options, knows where to go, offering day and evening wine and tapas tours, or a few that combine both. It’s not only about finding the places but also about learning about what you’re eating and drinking, from experts who know Spanish gastronomy well.
If that’s not sufficiently hands on, Gourmet Madrid has also begun offering cooking classes in English. Chefs conduct them in a charming kitchen and workshop, offering instruction in how to make classic Spanish dishes, including paella, gazpacho and tortilla de patatas. Since it’s almost the holidays, you can try making popular seasonal recipes for traditional dishes, which include red cabbage with pine nuts, roasted lamb, sweet almond soup and chocolate Christmas cake.
Also, new this month are daylong excursions to wineries in the region, where visitors will be introduced to a mixture of modern and traditional styles, which show different aspects of winemaking.
“You get an entertaining education on the tours and in the cooking classes,” said Cristina Alonso, director of Gourmet Madrid. “Madrid won’t be the same to you afterward; it will be on the way to becoming your town.”
Rates per person:
Wine tasting and dinner: 70 euros (about $95); wine only, 35 euros.
Evening wine and tapas tour: 70 euros.
Spanish cooking class: 70 euros.
One-day tour to wineries in the nearby region:
125 euros.