Good morning!
If you are following me on Instagram you know I am actually in Melbourne, not in Spain. I’m slowly getting through all of the hot chocolates I had on my trip to Spain.
Chocolateria San Gines
What you need right now is a warm mug of thick, dark chocolate with 3 or 4 crispy, golden, still warm churros to dip into the chocolate. At least this is what I need right now. You can find these all around Spain, but Madrid had my favourites. But it seems that I am not the only one that feels this way judging by the long lines outside Chocolateria San Gines. Luckily, they are open 24 hours a day and have been since 1894. They are still making their churros using a traditional technique called “a hombre” where the churros are mixed by hand and pressed into a long circular string before being fried. If you are to believe their website, they have made 929 million of these and 73 million cups of chocolate. I believe…
BomBom
Bombon is my local in Madrid. I don't actually live in Madrid, so I don't have a local bar/cafe either, but if I did live in Madrid, I'd probably start my apartment searches around this area because of Bombon. They sell (or used to) not only an impressive range of craft chocolate from around the world, but many hot chocolates, both plain and flavoured with any number of spices and even nut butters, most made in house. Add in great music (the owners are musicians) and you have a winner! Unfortunately, Bombon felt the COVID restrictions hard and had to close. I'm not sure whether the current Bombon is still run by the original owners, or even if there is still a focus on chocolate. Therefore, this post is more of an ode to what Bombon was when I visited and what I hope it will still be when I visit again.
More Spanish Chocolate…
The Association for the Promotion of Artisan Roast Bean to Bar Chocolate in Spain is a good place to start if you are organising a chocolate themed tour of Spain.
I spent a bit of time looking (drooling) through their websites. I’m intrigued by the 100x100 bar which includes cacao from the Philippines and cacao mucilage from @cacaokankel in La Rioja. @kaitxo2017 in Balmaseda has a milk chocolate with liquorice and violets. I really want to try @somospuchero ‘s chocolate with churros in bar form in Valladolid.
A Few Travel Tips and Links
If you are staying in Madrid for more than a few days, consider switching accomodation half way through so you can experience two different neighbourhoods.
Spend time at San Miguel Market just off Plaza Mayor
For more good food, sign up for one of Devours Food Tours early on in the trip to learn about all the best spots to eat.
Chocolatier Oriol Balaguer sells what he calls “high tech chocolates” with lyophilised although he doesn’t explain what that is (seems to be a fancy word for freeze drying…).
Taste heart shaped Palmeras de chocolate pastries at El Riojano on Calle Mayor, 10. They have been making them for over 160 years.
Cacao Sampka on Calle de Orlellano 4 has beautiful chocolates. Buy one of each.
Museo National del Prado has several chocolate themed historic paintings
For a very long list of amazing churros to taste, click here.
Have a great week!
Giselle
Chief Chocolate Sipper at www.ultimatehotchocolate.com. Follow on Instagram @ultimatehotchoc