Food tourism is trendy right now. That’s why every year Madrid turns into a food capital for almost an entire month thanks to the Gastrofestival ‘Madrid para comérselo’, which takes place in the Spanish capital on 7-23 February. This year the festival includes more than 500 establishments and institutions among which we can find restaurants, taverns, markets, shops, bookshops, cinemas and theatres, to name a few.
Homage to Galdós
One noteworthy addition to this edition is ‘Galdós en tres vuelcos’ (‘Galdós in three stages’), an event that will take place in the Círculo de Bellas Artes to pay tribute to the one hundred years since the death of Spanish author Benito Pérez Galdós. This gastro-literary menu will have three stages, like the preparation of a traditional Madrid stew. If you are lucky enough to relish this exclusive menu you will be able to enjoy dishes prepared by chef Enrique Sierra, theatrical performances by actress Marina Sánchez Vilchez and a story by José Esteban, author of La cocina en Galdós (‘Food in [the works of] Galdós’).
Let’s try Madrid’s most famous dishes
Can you imagine being able to enjoy the city’s most famous dishes? The Gastrofestival has provided a list of dishes prepared by some of Madrid’s most iconic restaurants you simply have to try, such as the Vall d’Arán sausage meatballs with truffle sauce by Cachivache Taberna; the grilled candied artichokes by Dogma; or the rather original carbonara by El Bacaro de Fabio Gasparini.
5-star menus
Some of the capital’s most famous restaurants offer 5-star menus to enjoy the very best Spanish and international cuisine the city has to offer. In cooperation with Mahou, the Gastrofestival offers these menus in popular locations such as Bellini Food & Bar, Cinco Jotas, Trattoria Sant Arcangelo or the Esquina del Real.
Sensory experiences
This year the sensory experiences are sponsored by Mercamadrid and Iberia Express. ‘Saborea Mercamadrid’ (‘Savour Mercamadrid’)offers a gastronomic workshop headed by chef Juan Pozuelo with seasonal products and the culinary visit of Ibera Express ‘¿A qué sabe volar?’ (‘What does flying taste like?’).
These and many more gastronomic proposals will be waiting at the Gastrofestival 2020. If you want to see the full schedule, you only have to click here.
