Italian crafts in Madrid
In Spain, the best restaurants and certain gourmet spaces have helped to publicize the diversity of Italian cuisine, although in reality, until very recently, the "Italian" dishes par excellence were the macaroni with chorizo, spaghetti Bolognese, pizzas and sandwiches with salami and mortadella with olives (protagonists of more than one snack) .
Capperi in Madrid and La Castafiore in Barcelona are two good examples of how to give the best in the best way . Every day they are filled with demanding customers who want to savor what is the best at each time of the year or even every day.
The quintessence of Italian products is found in these two small markets designed to offer the base of artisanal Italian cuisine from the different regions. Both have been recently remodeled, are located in the heart of the city and have developed a careful and very functional interior design, with the ideal temperature and light to protect the wines, cheeses, sausages, jams, oils and fresh pasta that they offer.
MADRID: CAPPERI ITALIAN MARKET. Carlos Peña and Manuel Baena have been committed to authenticity for years, and the food prepared is made with ingredients brought from Italy. They highlight the tuna bottarga -tuna roe from Sardinia- , the selection of products made with truffles and regional wines.
It has more than sixty varieties of pasta made by hand by the best artisan pastures of each region, which can be accompanied by tasty homemade sauces and cheeses. One of its great prepared food specialties are the gnocchi, made from potatoes. Every day there are news, like the gray rabbit ragu from Carmagnola or the new jams elderberry, lemon, bitter orange and figs from Calabria. The last? A wild arugula from Noale that has just arrived.
BARCELONA: THE CASTAFIORE With 27 years of life and success, La Castafiore has become a Barcelona classic. The colorful packaging of the multiple products and the lighting of every detail attract attention as soon as you enter.
On the one hand, on a large shelf there is a wide selection of delicacies such as Voiello pasta, select sauces and olives and chocolates and sweets . On the other side are the fresh products, ranging from self-prepared pasta, to antipasti, cured meats (Parma ham, mortadella with truffle...) or Sicilian vegetables and tomatoes, very fresh mozzarella and burrata , among many other delicate foods. Along with them, homemade sauces to accompany the pasta. And now the delicious Christmas panettone are starting to take over.