When I chanced upon Mercado de San Miguel near Plaza Mayor when I last visited Madrid, I went back again and again for my tinto de verano, croquetas and boquerones. Such a lovely place!
Each time though, the place is packed with locals and tourists alike. Fat chance you'd claim a stool or a decent space to enjoy your tapas y vino. So when Pinoy historian and Rizal enthusiast Jaime Marco brought me to Mercado de San Anton, I was more than delighted!
One of Madrid's oldest mercados, you'd find it in the gay (?) neighborhood of Chueca. Here you'd have a wide range of choices for your quezos, jamon, mushrooms and other deli products. One suspects the place is pricier as it is trendier, but OMG how could I have missed it in previous trips!
Jaime and I sat down for our 'desayuno'. If you mean to just limit yourself to a cup of cafe con leche or cortado -- as I initially intended -- I'd bet my bottom euro you won't resist for long -- as I did.
This traditional mercado with a modern, trendy twist can be found in Calle Figueroa, 24 in the Chueca neighborhood. Once there, don't fail to try the Anchoas del Cantabrico. If you like anchovies, you'd enjoy this muy fino variety. Que sabroso! Muchas gracias, Jaime.
Oops. And I'm back way too soon. :-) so here's another tip. Try the bacalao al pilpil and foie de bacalao con un vaso de sidra. Heaven. Oh, have I said that already?
For more details and photos on my food and other discoveries in Madrid (and elsewhere), do check out my lifeisacelebration site. Buen provecho!
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