Samo's BBQ has come to Madrid like a smokehouse that promises to revolutionize openings gastronomy of the capital with a direct trip to the best of the American barbecues.
For just a few days, when one walks through the Alfonso XIII street and Peru Square Something clamorously catches your attention. A smoky aroma fills the street . And it's not car or tobacco smoke, but slow roasting meat.
What do our eyes see and the other senses perceive? An authentic American BBQ, both at a kitchen and aesthetic level. Welcome to Samo's BBQ.
Samo's: a true smokehouse in Madrid.
The artificer? Cesar Galan or Samo, as his friends call him. Old acquaintance who conquered us in Lydia's Smoke House with their hamburgers and roasts in Ibiza.
He now leaves that stage behind, in the hands of his former partner, John Malek and returns to his Madrid , following in the footsteps of smoking and the world of American barbecues that Malek taught him.
What Samo has achieved is that once you walk through the doors of Samo's BBQ, you feel like you've landed on your face. in a gambling den USA deep . Everything there is a tribute to the mythical smokehouses and bbq restaurants.
“The idea of American barbecues is that you go to spend the day with family or friends . we wanted recreate this atmosphere of union ”, he explains to Traveler.es.
In this recreational way, at the entrance you are greeted by a space where you can have a good time, where an arcade machine from the 80s, a pool table, darts... and even a space to accommodate singer-songwriters with guitar that liven up the evenings in the restaurant.
Samo's Lounge.
Also there is your store , where in addition to getting merchandising such as t-shirts and caps and barbecue utensils (boards, cutting knives...) from a brand that is going to become the most powerful, you will be able to buy your cuts of smoked meats, filleted and ready to eat at home.
A WALL OF GLORY
Samo's BBQ even has its own hall of fame . And not from famous clients, but as a tribute to all those pioneers from the world of smokers, icons that have turned this type of cuisine into an art.
There are no shortage of photos of the mythical Tootsie Tomanetz , the octogenarian pit master (master grill) at the head of Snow's BBQ in Texas , of Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue, another temple also in Austin or of Rodney Scott's in Atlanta.
Soon from this wall will hang framed napkins with which the owners of each establishment have cleaned themselves eating ribs. "They have loved the idea, this is a business model in which a lot of community is created," he says. The quadrature of the circle.
His hall of fame.
It is inevitable not to pay attention to the kitchen , to the piece of smoker that Samo has built to treat his meats. "It's a bison, a bullet train", Cesar laughs and continues "I downloaded some plans from Google and did a lot of research on the subject."
Is about a oven of 600 kilos 3.9 meters long by 3 high. “It allows me to grill a massive amount of meat at the same time,” he shares.
FULL OF SECRETS
In the spacious premises there are from high tables to an area with benches. And a curiosity: some tables with a rounded shape, to the size of Samo's gut . “A lot of people appreciate it, even pregnant women,” he says.
They have a table to arm wrestle, where organize burger eating contests or hot dogs.
Samo's team.
And one more secret: a space that Samo has named his cabin. Soon it will be ready, but imagine, chester sofas , a fireplace , shelves full of books on the best Smokehouses in the world and the world of barbecue, as well as a collection of no less than a hundred whyskeys and bourbons unique in the city.
The plan? have a drink relaxed in this charming cabin after lunch or dinner. The space can also be rented privately for celebrations.
TEMPLE OF THE MEAT
Beyond an ad hoc space for proposals, what people go to Samo's BBQ for is to enjoy their food. to a fantastic collection of beers faucet , join your kitchen bets.
From that piece of oven that starts working at dawn, delicacies come out that are part of his menu.
To start whetting your mouth before the main course, they have a section with wonders such as Samo's nachos with cheese and a brisket chili con carne , almost to eat with a fork, chicken wings or some very juicy chicken bites , which is made with chicken thigh bathed in sweet and sour Korean sauce and accompanied with ranch sauce to make topping.
One of Samo's dishes.
The following section is a tribute to another of the emblems of American cuisine, the food truck . Cuban sandwich, hot dog, California roll wrap or a succulent Philly cheese steak, are part of this bet between breads.
they couldn't miss the mythical burgers by Cesar Galan , a millimeter-like creation smashed Burger, in which the PH of the meat is even studied, to always maintain the same amount of fat. They are accompanied by pickles, cheese and house sauce, all arranged inside a homemade brioche bread.
Now, it is convenient to leave room for the roasts . From pork ribs and beef ribs flavored with coffee or with barbecue sauce sweetened with seasonal fruit, smoked pork belly, to meats such as the pulled pork that is roasted for 7 and 9 hours and hydrates with gold sauce made with mustard, dill and rosemary, queen of barbecues.
His hamburgers were already famous in Ibiza.
Not to mention other kings of the house, the noblest cuts of meat like the brisket , with a spectacular fat marbling or the picaña , which due to the type of meat, works very well to prepare sandwiches with it, so they accompany it with small rolls and pickles so you can eat it however you want.
All of them can be ordered in half portions and with accompaniments such as roasted or fried sweet potato, French fries, puree or great coleslaw , recipe from Samo's mother who is German.
Hollow for dessert? Then you have to choose from a variety of homemade candies with american flavor . French toast with Jack Daniel's Honye caramel, cookie, American cheesecake or the queen of the house, the keylime pie.
We have it clear. The genuine Samo's BBQ has come to Madrid to stay.
César Galán, the architect of everything.
PRACTICAL DATA
Address : Alfonso XIII Avenue, 149, Madrid. Schedule : from Wednesday to Sunday, from noon to 11 p.m. (except Saturdays, until 02:00 a.m.). Telephone : 918 18 69 75.