As autumn arrived in Madrid and the air cooled on a wander down Madrid’s Calle de Arenal, I had a sudden craving for Spain’s favourite warm sweet treat — churros y chocolate! This a quintessentially Spanish snack that can be enjoyed at any time of year, but I think during autumn and winter churros y chocolate are a perfect comforting warmer.
Join me as I visit Madrid’s iconic Chocolatería San Ginés and pull up a chair at an old marble table in its dining room that dates back to 1894. As I dunk and chomp my way through this sinfully delicious delicacy I take in the surroundings, look at the photos adorning the walls and take in the basement ‘train carriage-style nook’. I also talk about San Ginés’s interesting literary connection to modernist playwright Ramón María del Valle-Inclán and his play Luces de Bohemia.
Next stop Los Artesanos 1902 where I see their churrero in action in the kitchen, albeit through a glass window, and explain how churros and porras (the thicker version) are made. Final stop is a very quiet Chocolatería Valor for another round of churros and run-through the curious history of this snack and also when it is usually eaten. (Not for dessert!)
Other must-visit churrerías that I mention in the episode:
Chocolat
La Antigua Churrería
Churrería Camu
Churrería Santa Ana
Here’s a bit more background about the play Luces de Bohemia
Semana Santa: Easter in Spain, processions, passion & pointy hats
Colourful Spanish expressions – A class in streetwise slang & vulgar vocab
Top Spanish products – A shopping list of food, drink, fashion & a mop
Learn to Speak Spanish Fluently : 8 tips to master Spanish – WIS029
Nine Spanish culture shocks: Habits in Spain I can’t get used to
Valentine’s Day in Spain – Latin lovin’, traditions & soppy vocab 101
Hiking ‘El Caminito del Rey’ – The scariest footpath in Spain! WIS026
A very Spanish Christmas! Festivities, food & traditions – WIS025
Spain’s most famous market: El Rastro de Madrid, sights, sounds & history – WIS024
Are Spaniards vampires? Shutters, bars & balconies – WIS023
Trains, planes & automobiles – Transport in Spain WIS022
A weekend in Asturias, a cow, a puncture & the most local bar in Spain – WIS021
Alternative things to do in Madrid & moving to Barcelona – WIS020
Trains in Spain and a trip on the AVE from Madrid to Barcelona – WIS019
Bullfighting. Art or bloodsport? A trip to Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring – WIS018
Ben Curtis and Marina Diez from Notes in Spanish – WIS017
Siesta & fiesta! What’s up with Spain’s crazy daily routine!? – WIS016
Desperate Literature – Books that explain Spain WIS015
Shops, shopping Spanish style and opening hours – WIS014
Spanish Beer – Brands, Bars and how to order like a native – WIS013
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