Tengo Hambre: The Spanish Experience

Two years ago Shahar and I visited Madrid for a private vacation just before I started to work for Microsoft.  As food lovers we searched for places to eat and as usual we were looking for the locals recommendations instead of the touristic places. At that visit we came across a blog of a Spanish guy from Madrid that wrote English recommendations about the Spanish restaurants. In that trip we have realized we should write such a blog about Tel Aviv. My current trip, which was a business trip, was some kind of a closure as I visited the city in which the blog was founded from.

Thanks to my Spanish guide Hector, and some wondering around the streets I have tested again the wonderful tastes of Madrid.

Mercado de San Miguel
I admit, this is a very touristic place and it seems that the locals don’t really go there. Nevertheless it was very nice experience of colors, tastes and sounds.  I even discovered over there that Sea Urchin is something people actually eat.

Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel

Bazaar Restaurant

Very ‘value for money’ place. You can’t book a place in advanced so we came there, registered and went to drink a beer in the Chueca barrio. At the restaurant itself I took a Burger that was a bit dry in my opinion but overall it was a good lunch. Very good Cheese Cake.
http://www.restaurantbazaar.com

Bazaar

El Zagal
To this place I arrived just because it was very close to my hotel. I had a traditional dish of Octopus with Potatoes and Paprika (Pulpo Gallego).
http://madrid.salir.com/cerveceria_restaurante_el_zagal

El Zagal

Taberna Txacolina
I have asked Hector for a tapas and beer tour in all the cool places, so he took me to Calle de la Cava Baja in La Latina. We were in a few places and the one I liked the best was Txacolina. The place had good vibe and quite big tapas.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187514-d1942497-Reviews-Taberna_Txacolina-Madrid.html

Txacolina

Txacolina

With Hector at Txacolina

La Gloria Montera
Another place by the owners of the Bazar restaurant. Overall i think it was also value for money as I payed 21 EUR for a good Salad, Entrecote Steak and wine. I drank the wine by myself, wishing Shahar was there to share the experience with me.
http://www.lagloriademontera.com/

Malatesta
I have arrived here by chance. I was walking around the streets looking for something to eat and I was already a bit tired from all the deep fried food. Then I have noticed this small and cute place and I knew right away this is the place for me. It was a bit expensive but definitely worth it. The pasta was great and I finally had a real salad with fresh vegetables
http://trattoriamalatesta.com

Malatesta

Orio Fuencarral
I went there on our night out with all the Spanish guys and the people from the training. In my opining the tapas there were over-fried. I mean why everything should be deep fried? And when I’m saying everything I mean that even the oysters were fried.
http://www.oriogastronomiavasca.com/

Orio Fuencarral

Tempranillo
My biggest challenge in Madrid was going by myself to a tapas bar, push people in order to get to the bar and then to ask for food in Spanish. On my last night in Madrid I decided I will do it no matter what. I went back to Cava Baja and found Tempranillo. It wasn’t easy for me but I found myself at the bar asking for “Jamon Serrano con pan tomate y vino tinto” and afterwards I was able to ask for 2 or 3 more tapas by myself from the Spanish menu. That was a joy! And the food was very good as well.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187514-d990681-Reviews-Tempranillo-Madrid.html

Tempranillo

Tempranillo

Santiago Bernabeu
Yes I know, this is a food blog not sports. Nevertheless one cannot miss mentioning that he (or she) was at a game of Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu. Absolutely amazing experience that does not remind the Israeli football in any way.

Real Madrid

The Perfect Romantic Celebration – The Wine Bar

We waited a long time since starting to write this blog until we have returned to one of our favorite places in Tel Aviv. Though quite a small place, containing nothing more than 4-5 tables and a bar, the Wine Bar has more romantic spirit and passion than most of the restaurants we have visited so far.

The Bar

Logging to their Facebook page, you’ll receive frequent updates (in Hebrew though) regarding their newest ingredient which came straight from the market or from the fisherman. Book a place at the bar as we have and you won’t be disappointed, as the highlight of the place is the fact that the chef is right in front of you, grilling the shrimps, chopping the Tuna and burning the Brule. That way you can also make sure the Wine Bar is using only fresh ingredients.

Greek Calamari Salad

We have booked a place at the bar a night after our wedding, as the celebration must continue. We shared three dishes. The first one was Greek Calamari Salad with Kalamate olives, tomatoes, green peppers and red onions. Though all fresh, something in the sauce didn’t come together and it was somewhat disappointing. The second dish was Pasta shreds with sautéed Italian Artichokes, delicate pesto sauce and Parmesan. This was a great example of the creative side of Wine Bar, and was a delicious dish (highly recommended if you are an Artichoke fan).

Artichokes and Pasta Shreds

The last dish we ordered is one of Inbar’s all time favorites –Seafood Gnocchi. A true quality homemade Gnocchi, was served with a selection of Shrimps and Calamari, cherry tomatoes, green peppers and coriander. The spiciness of the sauce and the fresh ingredients of the dish combined to one of the best seafood pastas we ever had.

Seafood Gnocchi

To end the evening with a sweet taste in our mouth we also took a Banana Crumble. The hot crisp topping and the warm banana fitted very well and were very tasty. Along with two glasses of Gewurztraminer wine we went out the street elated.

Banana Crumble

As long as the Wine Bar continues to have the passion it shows and continues to execute as it does now, we will definitely come back, at least once in a while.

The check please (2 people)

Artichokes and Pasta Shreds – 54 NIS
Greek Calamari Salad – 52 NIS
Seafood Gnocchi – 64 NIS
Banana Crumble – 32 NIS
2X Gewurztraminer by the glass – 68 NIS

All in all: 270 NIS

The Cizer-Kobrinsky Scale: 

4.5 Forks

Summary:

Food:  Mediterranean
Price:  Expensive
Location: Montefiore-Nachlat Binyamin

Contact details: Wine Bar
Address:  36 Nachlat Binyamin,Tel Aviv | 03-5102923|
Opening Hours:  Sunday-Thrusday, Saturday 19:00-01:00 Friday 13:00-01:00 |
http://www.rest.co.il/sites/Default.asp?txtRestID=9866 (No English)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wine-Bar/99691452740