Wednesday 10 February 2016

La Terraza del Casino de Madrid.

La Terraza del Casino is in a grand and opulent old hotel in the heart of Madrid. It used to be an outpost of the Ferran Adriá empire but now it's run by Paco Roncero a celebrity chef also with a reputation as one of the most respected in Spain. (He won the National Gastronomy Award in 2006). We had an enjoyable lunch there on a sunny winter lunchtime.
We begin with a refreshing frozen Pisco-Sour Cocktail.
Then some beautiful snacks... Anchovies in vinegar, potato with ali-oli and olives. Olive oil frozen toast, olive oil soufflé and olive oil cheese. 
It was wonderful to have an El Bulli favourite again, (see our review from 2004 here). The liquid olive that we enjoyed at both Tickets and The 41º Degrees Experience is always a great pleasure to eat. Next shrimp omelette like Tortillas de Camarones, you can also find a version of this at Aponiente.
All the snacks are superb. This initial part of a meal is often our favourite as it is here. I wish in a way that the whole afternoon could be spent eating small plates like this. We must continue... Poached egg and wild mushrooms. (Bread below. I had to try all three types for research purposes).
Hake with codium seaweed pil-pil.
Pigeon with apple-cru and truffle purée.
We notice some oysters going out to another table and request this as an additional course, they are as fresh as you can imagine. Oyster with pickled carrot. I love the way the taste of the sea lingers on your lips.
I could not really fault La Terraza del Casino. The food is beautiful and the service is as efficient as you'd expect in a two Michelin star restaurant. The snacks part of the meal is especially is marvellous fun and the elegant dining room (created by prestigious designer Jaime Hayon) is such a pleasure to eat in. There are not many better ways of enjoying a long lazy lunch in the heart of Madrid.


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