Two Healthy tips for 2016: Assari & Bio C' Bon

The new year has arrived, and with it comes a set of new resolutions! Im sure that among many of you, there is a strong intent to have a healthier life. Here, my little Madrid offers two healthy suggestions: Assari and Bio c'est Bon.

My Little Madrid Sunday Morning Tour!

Last weekend we had an amazing day showing off our favourite places in the city, mainly Barrio de Salamanca to a selective group of 11 french luxury tour- operators. They were all invited by Madrid Destino, together with the Oficina de Turismo Española in Paris, Air Europa and The Leading Hotels of the World wanting to explore and promote Madrid in their travel plans.

The town hall’s Tourism Department contacted therealthing.es a Spanish travel agency that focuses on luxury experiences and the Spanish culture in order to get the best from Madrid. We were very grateful to them, when they contacted us for organizing a “My Little Madrid morning”. In this event, the mission was to show the tour-operators, on a Sunday, the gastro and shopping side of barrio de Salamanca.

Miss Chou, a Delicious Bite!

A French sweet speciality has arrived in town – the Petit Choux! The place to buy them is: Miss Chou. I hope it won’t be a temporary success just like the already forgotten cronut. They are very well known in France and first appeared in the XVIth century!

Gourmet Experience Serrano

“El Corte Inglés”, one of the most traditional Madrid shopping centers, has been innovating in the last years regarding its gourmet section. It has always been modern if compared to other big shopping centers and the work done is fantastic. We need to congratulate them again as they have opened an spectacular Gourmet venue in Serrano 52.

Tip for September: a picnic at the Retiro by Magasand

So, we are back in town and it’s official, the holidays are over. We all look very suntanned but inside a terrible post-holiday depression has overcome us… no more outdoor activities either in the sea or the mountains, the majority of us are now confined to be in front of a computer.

Summer holidays are over and we have the pavement as landscape, however, we at My Little Madrid have a recommendation that will, for sure, make you feel as though coming back to the city wasn’t so terrible... as you will have the feeling again of being free among nature!!

You just have to follow our instructions:

El Huerto de Lucas, a new ecogastrocultural market!

I am so happy with this new eco trend going on in Madrid! Last Sunday I went to El Huerto de Lucas, in San Lucas 13, a covered market with a nice restaurant in the middle that is worth a visit, especially as walking down the Street you don’t seem to realize that there is a huge space of 450 square meters inside that can be considered as an eco-paradise! Actually their motto is ‘the first medicine is food’!

Shopping for gourmet canned seafood - La Conservera by Frinsa

There is a delicatessen in Madrid that all seafood lovers should definitely visit: La Conservera by Frinsa. It is a great place for tin can shopping, and despite the fact that we sometimes consider canned food less interesting than fresh food, I have to say that the quality of products inside Frinsa’s cans is amazing! a wonderful marine breeze for your next menu!

Mama Campo - Eco Restaurant and Market

David and Nacho

After reading so many good reviews, I could finally visit Mama Campo and was happy to see that, not only it is one of the hot spots of the moment, but it also has a great service and an awesome philosophy: eat great, healthy and responsible in a nice decor.

Herbolario Navarro - healthy shopping

New in town and a healthy alternative to big surfaces, Herbolario Navarro certainly deserves a visit. Take your time as you will learn a lot!

Christmas Pop-up store The Hovse: the place to be and buy!

 

Festive season fever has arrived in Madrid and despite the fact that we still have 24 days until Christmas; I am not enthusiastic about the stressful consumer obsession that abounds this time of year. For this reason, I declare my deepest love to the best Christmas pop-up store in Madrid: #thehovse!!

Petra Mora - Stylish food at a good price

A new grocery store has opened in Salamanca district, just in front of Mercado de la Paz. The nieces of designer Adolfo Dominguez, María y Uxía Domínguez, owners of Bimba y Lola, are behind this new concept of low cost gourmet products with which they expect to revolutionize the elite food industry. 

Even though it has been initially conceived as an on-line business www.petramora.com they have decided to establish a unique shop in Ayala 21. The concept is quite revolutionary; create a brand that brings together some of the best food processors and producers of high-end. An ambitious project by the name of Petra Mora.

Poncelet - cheeses

I admit it, I get mad about cheese and trespassing Poncelet doors puts me in ecstasy. Madrid was lacking a shop with such an excellent selection of cheese until Poncelet opened its door in 2004 at Argensola 27. And now it has expanded business with a Cheese Bar at Jose Abascal 61 and an online shop, but I haven't tried them.

Urban Veggie Garden - new trend in Madrid

Just because you don't have a big back yard doesn't mean you can't reap the benefits of a vegetable garden in the city. A sunny window ledge, balcony, patio, or roof deck with six or more hours of full sun will provide plenty of space to cultivate and harvest veggies.

In Madrid many initiatives prove that cultivating your own food is a new winning trend!!

Isabela Gourmet Market in Madrid

Last Update: Isabela gourmet market did not make it. It has been closed down on the 17th of May 2013. Too young to die?

Isabela Gourmet Market
Paseo de la Habana 3
91 562 71 83

Sweets and candy - Caramelos Paco

Caramelos Paco (calle Toledo 55) is something very dear to me. My dad goes there every week to replenish his provisions of candy that then offers to all of us when we go for lunch to his house. He enjoys as a little child maybe because he is diabetic and can only imagine but not taste the joy of savouring sweets.

San Miguel Market in Madrid

Nice exterior...

The current San Miguel Market was built at the beginning of 20th century, following the style of the markets in Paris with big glass and iron buildings, Eiffel Style. During the Civil War the market was closed but fortunately not destroyed.

San Antón Market in Madrid

A vegetable wall for a veggy shop

Someone at the Town Hall started with this good idea to recover old district markets (spanish mercados de abastos) that were abandoned and refurbish them as new hot spots for the city. Today the trendiest place to buy food or to have a snack in Madrid is Mercado de San Antón or Mercado de San Miguel, and I've heard there are some others programmed shortly...!! I must say I like it.

Bakery - Mamá Framboise

Mamá Framboise is my choice for afternoon tea in Chamberi (Fernando VI, 23). Inspired in Joanne Harris’, Five Quarters of the Orange, and with a very frenchy style, you will get some of the best deserts in Madrid.

Young Chef Alejandro Montes is the winner of various prizes such as: Best Young Spanish Baker (2006), Best Spanish Chocolatier (2007) and golden medal in the France Open de Desserts (2010). He‘s being assisted by Ángel Sánchez- Infantes with an important family expertise.

It also offers a catering service, take away, and place to arrange family events and celebrations. Menu includes sandwiches, quiches, salads and all kinds of breads and croissants; a great variety of coffees and teas, hot chocolate and other. It can be very packed but all tables are communal, so you can also socialize as in “Le Pain Quotidien” (another option genuinely Belgium).

Where to buy meat -Villa Maria

Carne Villa María is the place I have chosen for meat in Madrid. I do not have much time to be wondering around shopping so this is a best option. The meat comes directly form Mercamadrid, with excellent quality and adjusted prices. You can buy either directly form their Web page or phoning to 91 786 35 24. In maximum two days you meat will be at home. Choice is varied: from poultry to pig, veal, lamb, ham and a variety of delicatessen. Everything arrives perfectly packed and ready for cooking or freezing.

Fruit and Vegetable Market - Plaza de Castilla

 Sunday at the market. Sunday mornings there is an outdoors market at plaza de Castilla where I usually go to refurbish my fresh vegetable and fruit weekly needs. The market has also cloths and others but I do not recommend that sector. You need to get to the end of the market (which starts at Plaza de Castilla) at the corner of Avda de Asturias and calle Pinos baja, park there, so you are really close for transportation, and walk around to find the best bargain. Quality is good as directly gown and picked from your yard and prices are very convenient.

Funny Sergio from Romania offering delicious oranges (Bombon) 

This is my today's purchase: 1 kilo eggplants, 1 kilo borraja, 5 kilos mandarines, 1,5 kilo artichokes, 1 kilo tomatoes, 1 kilo green butter beans, 2 kilo kiwis, 1 kilo carrots, 1 lettuce, 1 kilo courgettes, 1 kilo sweet beet and 1 red cabbage for a total price of €23,85. Not bad!