Discovering Local Food Specialties in Madrid, Madrid, Spain (B)

Just as any other journey of Madrid, this food walk starts in Plaza Mayor, a place that has throughout its tumultuous history seen a multitude of events: from bullfights to soccer games to public executions, and more. Nowadays, Plaza Mayor is skirted by a number of restaurants and cafes most of which are somewhat overpriced and brimming with tourists. Still, despite the high prices, Plaza Mayor is a marvelous place to sit out and enjoy a sip of good Spanish wine and tasty tapas (most notably the calamari sandwich – a culinary specialty of Madrid – a bread bun filled with calamari battered in flour and egg and then fried, just craving to be washed down with an ice-cold beer) in some of the many delicious corners surrounding the square. One such “corner” is the Los Galayos historic restaurant open since 1894, serving traditional Madrid recipes. Its main specialty is a beef tenderloin on a hot stone block. The restaurant has a number of dining rooms, plus two outdoor terraces for those who seek just a quick snack of tapas. Unlike many tourist traps nearby, most of which are quite pricey and not always up to a tee food-wise, Los Galayos – albeit not so cheap either – has the history and well-deserved reputation in terms of food quality that draws both, locals and guests of the city in their numbers. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).