Sample inventive dishes at the Gourmet Experience’s StreetXO
One walk around Madrid’s busy streets and you’ll no doubt come across a giant store with the words El Corte Inglés emblazoned in green on it. This is Spain’s largest department store, and, for the most part, not unlike those that you’ve probably encountered back home. Except there’s one big awesome difference: the Gourmet Experience.
In recent years, El Corte Inglés has opened up entire sections of their stores – usually an entire floor (or even two) in the basement of a store or up on the top floor – completely dedicated to all things gourmet. This consists of gourmet goods of course – think everything from wine to olive oils, and hard-to-find foodstuffs from other countries – but also actual restaurants.
Not just any restaurants, though. In some cases, they include basic (but chic) tapas bars. But in two locations, the selection offers so much more. Both the El Corte Inglés in Callao (right in the heart of the Gran Vía), and also another on Serrano Street (the city’s poshest shopping avenue), have top-floor Gourmet Experiences. This means that not only will you find the aforementioned gourmet food shops but also an awesome helping of city views, as well as wallet-friendly versions of Madrid’s most high-end restaurants. This includes stops such as StreetXO, the brainchild of David Muñoz, who’s the chef behind Madrid’s only three-Michelin-star-rated restaurant, DiverXO. Depending on the location, you can also check out the likes of several other spots, such as Imanol (for some pintxos (Basque-style tapas)), or go for a dessert at the Celler de Can Roca-inspired gelatería Rocambolesc.
If you’re keen to sample more of the capital’s cuisine, take to the city streets on a Madrid Tapas Night Walking Tour. This is a great way to experience the culinary side of Madrid without having to navigate the neighborhoods or the menus by yourself. Or, if you want to take the gastronomic experience a step further, learn how to even whip up some dishes yourself during a Madrid cooking class.
- Contributed by Erin Ridley
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