Copas | Página 13 de 13

A magic afterwork at Lavaca

When I heard about the launch of LAVACA AFTERWORK I completely forgot that I knew another LAVACA restaurant where during the Christmas holidays I went with a couple of friends visiting Madrid. At that time I clearly remember I had a great Argentinian meat shared with my friends and a basket of delicious fried aubergines. I mean I am an aubergine fan and I always order them but these were sensational. I don’t know why I didn’t took any picture, probably my phone was dead or I was too hungry.

I learned lately that LAVACA is more than two restaurants, it’s a group of restaurants, and appear to be an historic location for Madrid meat lovers, born as an Argentinian special destination.

There are six LAVACA restaurants in Madrid: LAVACA Castellana (Paseo de la Castellana, 214), LAVACA AZCA (Paseo de la Castellana, 87), LAVACA Arturo Soria (Torrecilla del Puerto, 5), LAVACA Las Rozas (Carretera de La Coruña, km 18,3), LAVACA López de Hoyos (López de Hoyos, 42), LAVACA Rosales (Paseo del Pintor Rosales, 52).

I’ve been at the AFTERWORK of LAVACA López de Hoyos, where the following pictures comes from. The first night and the barra area was completely full, thanks also to the very good music from the resident dj.

The new concept they have just developed is the so called «barra non stop» which means more space for the bar and more time for the typical Spanish «disfrutar» without forgetting the food, the new menu full of special gastronomy excellence lake the Wagyu carpaccio or the famous parrilla. This new concept of «barra non stop» is exclusively available in half of LAVACA restaurants: LAVACA López de Hoyos, LAVACA Castellana and LAVACA Arturo Soria.

I can’t wait be at LAVACA again, because I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant and the bar of course which has also a new cocktail menu. Trust me, when you try their meat, even if just an appetizer like the one in the picture above, you really understand the difference between all the other type of meat.

For more information: LAVACA.

febrero 14, 2017/0 Comentarios/por EnzoLauretta

Barceló Torre de Madrid

Copas, Gastronomía

Weeks ago I was going to the see an Italian movie in the Cinema close to Plaza de Espana. There was a sort of Italian Film Festival and they were screening «Jeeg Robot D’accaio» that had a tremendous success in Italy.

While walking through the continuation of Gran Via over Plaza de Espana, I discovered this huge building that seems to be a very modern hotel going to open soon.

I have Always loved the restaurants and cocktails bar inside the hotels in Milan, with Bulgari and Diana Sharaton, and here in Madrid too. Only You Atocha is a great example of a innovative concept, or all the Room Mate, Oscar for sure with his Amazing terrace.

All these examples of great hotels have that je-ne-sais-quoi that can differentiate their offer between all the Others.

Barceló Torre de Madrid really strenght it’s uniqueness with an incredible architecture from the outside and a great design on the inside.

The view is reserved at the higher floors for the hotel accommodations and the spa. The cocktail bar, that you can see in these pictures, is on the ground floor, the restaurant named Somos garra is on the first floor, which is even enough to enjoy the view of the Gran Via rising and Plaza de Espana shining through the fountains water.

I loved the atmosphere of the bar and service was perfect. I mean. if you bring me nuts and candies I’ll be in love with you forever.

My cocktail is sin alcohol, don’t remember the name, I was so impressed by the menu design, looking like a Pantone palette, but gold.

More information here: Barcelò Torre de Madrid

febrero 3, 2017/1 Comentario/por EnzoLauretta

Vermut mon amour

Copas, Más

I have to admit that in many situations I am attracted by the design of a product instead of the very essence of it. With food for example many times the cover is beautiful but the inside is awful. That’s why the old school vintage food might be better than a new hister packaging.

It rarely happens that I am attracted by the package and than I am not disappointed by the food or drinks. It always happens to me with wine for example, as I don’t have a strong knowledge of the amazing world of winery, I also pick the bottle with the most attractive label.

With Casa Mariol it was completely different. I saw this completely different bottle twice, in bars and restaurant here in Madrid but never tried it. The third time I saw it was at PUM PUM CAFE’. While I was waiting for my matcha latte para llevar I gooogle «Casa Mariol Vermut» and here we are.

I was even more impressed by the story of a famous Spanish product exported in Australia.

I bought a bottle the same day, last floor of the El Corte Ingles, but also available online. And than, right after taking this photos, I’ve tried it.

I love vermut in general, it’s my favourite after work choice, and this one in particular, the vermut negre of Casa Mariol really impressed me. I had it at home with this tortilla caliente casera I took in one of my favourite tapas bar in La Latina.

The taste is very strong but I can’t tell if it’s sweet or not, I can just tell that it’s strong, like if it was concentrate. I suggest to try it at PUM PUM CAFE’ or trust me and buy a bottle, it’s less than 8 €.

enero 18, 2017/1 Comentario/por EnzoLauretta

10 things to do in Copenhagen

Arte, Copas

Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, like most of the Nordic cities, is one of the happiest places in the world. In this city you can see people leaving a stroller with their child inside or outside a cafe while they are sipping hot tea. Even though there is more cycling culture and pedestrian travel than ever before, there is almost no corruption.

Ideal for a weekend in Denmark, Copenhagen can be the end or the beginning point of a Danish coast to coast excursion. You can visit the city and just walk around, mesmerized by the attractions and the history, or do what locals do and ride a bike, making sure you don’t actually end up in a traffic jam. The port area has great dining facilities; you can find street food stalls or before it was closed a five-star restaurants like the Noma.

The Tivoli Gardens

These very famous gardens and amusement park were built in 1843. The Park has more than 20 attractions, like roller coasters, outdoor theatres, restaurants, gardens, and also a hall for concerts. If you have the opportunity to go at night it will be a remarkable experience to see the fantastic night lights and attend a concert in the middle of the park. Many movies have been made using the gardens as a backdrop and it has been visited by Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney, as well.

If you are thinking about a trip to Copenhagen during the winter, that’s a very good idea, especially during Christmas time. Copenhagen becomes even more special and magical at that time of year.

Christiansburg

Like most of the European capitals, the parliament building in the city is always an attraction for tourists. As an example, think about Westminster in London or the futuristic Norman Foster glass dome at the top of the Reichstag in Berlin.

Christiansburg Palace was the residence of the royal family until the 1794 fire, after which it became the parliament building.

Nyhavn

Nyhavn is the ancient port of the city and is probably the most famous place in Copenhagen. It is in the center of the city and was a crucial part of the economy in the past and is a strategic colorful attraction for tourists today, even though, in the past, it was also considered as a dangerous area.

It’s a must-see attraction. Perfect for a Sunday lunch or a relaxing dinner, the street food market closes at 10 pm and it’s a great, inexpensive alternative for a typical meal or you can try some of the other cultural food stalls; there is something for everyone.

The Little Mermaid

The iconic statue, The Little Mermaid, is a mandatory stop for everyone visiting Copenhagen. Probably one of the most common selfies in the world and for a lot of people also a huge disappointment, mostly because of the size of the statue and the over-crowded situation. The Little Mermaid became a famous attraction in Copenhagen because it was mentioned in one of Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales. The statue is located at the Langelinje port in the city.

Rundetårn (The Prince’s Mansion)
In practically all capital cities, there is, of course, a national museum. The Prince’s Mansion is the location of the National Museum of Denmark, an attraction you should not miss it if you want to discover more about the Danish culture and history. This is a fantastic place to better understand the history of this nation.

Some of the things you will see here includes a great collection of ancient remnants from Danish churches and some beautiful ceramics and old coins. There is also a section dedicated to Eskimo stories, as well as opportunities to learn about the populations from Asia, Africa, India, and Australia.

Statens Museum for Kunst

As the Prince’s Mansion was about the history of Denmark, the Statens Museum for Kunst is a collection of Danish works of art from the 1700s to contemporary art and is called the National Gallery of Denmark. It also contains other national exhibitions from all over the world. The museum is huge, so be sure you familiarize yourself with the gallery before starting your visit.

Rundetårn

The Rundetårn is the most famous tower in Copenhagen. It is 236 meters high and built in 1642 as an astronomical observatory. Inside it is empty but is not disappointing, as the spiral staircase and the view from the top over the city are worth every step you take during your visit.

Amalienborg

The Amalienborg Palace is the actual residence of the Danish Royal Family and has been since 1794. There are four different buildings, Queen Margherita II and her family live in the Palace of Christian IX, and the Palace of Christian VII is used for the official visits.

Strøget

Strøget is the shopping area of Copenhagen; you can’t miss it if you prefer a pair of new shoes instead of a souvenir. You can also find many shops, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants as well. Among all the northern capitals, Copenhagen is the fashion capital, so you are in the right place if you want to discover young emerging talent.

Christiania

It all began as a Hippie settlement in the seventies and now Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighborhood of about 850 residents with no cars, only bikes and wild horses on the streets. They have their own currency and their economy is based on the business conducted in Pusher Street. It’s the most peculiar thing you will see in Copenhagen; it is one of a kind sightseeing; it’s original and different from all the things you have seen before your visit to Christiania; you’ll feel like you’re in another world.

Last but certainly not least, if you are a beer lover, Copenhagen gives you the opportunity to visit the birthplace of Carlsberg.

enero 10, 2017/0 Comentarios/por EnzoLauretta

Hermosos y Malditos

Copas, Gastronomía

I’ve discovered Hermos y Malditos as soon as their Instagram profile was opened. Probably one of the most interesting Instagram feed I’ve ever seen. It was clear to me that I would love the place. Reading a bit more about the cocktail bar I also discovered the cocktail menu had one super hipster mixology tresure called «Wes Anderson».

Obviously yesterday when I finally had the chance to go there I took a quick look at the menu and ordered cocktail named as one of my favourite movie director. The very kind barman told me that due to the decision of creating this Scott Fitzgerald atmosphere, this key cocktail was renamed as the famous writer. Hermos y Malditos is infact the spanish version of the very renowned «The Beautiful and Damded».

Well, the cocktail was very good, and I also appreciate the candies and the still water as soon as I sat down to the blue velvet sofa (yes, another Director’s quote, Mr. David Lynch).

This is a very unique location, the music with the deejay was perfect, the design of the cocktail room was perfect. I didn’t have my Nikon Camera with me, so all the pictures were taken with my new mobile phone. I am getting used to it, and was a bit tipsy because of the cocktail, but the result is quite good for a Sony XZ.

For more information:Hermosos y Malditos

enero 7, 2017/1 Comentario/por EnzoLauretta

Grazie

Copas, Gastronomía, Más

[This is not a Spanish Restaurant, it’s a gratitude post about an unexpected present I’ve received yesterday]

Spending the xmas Holidays away from home is kind of weird, probably the first time, than it should become more easy.

You know I bought my first serious camera during these holidays, and it was an Amazing xmas present for myself. But Yesterday a courier rang my door with a mystery pack.

Two bottles of Wine were included and a series of instructions on how to serve them properly.

The real deal was the name of the producer, I mean the wine producer, it was called like me, Diana. I guess nothing was left to chance.

Even the name of this first red win was chosen with care. The description of it states:

BONARDA – The Faithful Companion – Bosco del pozzo
The purple notes of the Croatina grape have developed into a ruby red. We can taste the berries, in particular, blackberries. It now has a more robust body, and there is a persistent aftertaste. Ripa del Ciliegio shows how the most traditional grape of the Oltrepò, usually used for sparkling wines, can also express itself perfectly in this still wine, producing something original and of stature. It is the ideal companion to those more sophisticated dishes.

I know, I am very lucky to have friends like this, and miss a lot the weekends spent together hiking.

enero 5, 2017/0 Comentarios/por EnzoLauretta

Welcome to MadriDiana

Copas

Madrid is a big city, and like the internet you can find everything and you can find nothing.

So the question is:

why should this blog be different than all the others giving advices around the city, answering to all your questions?

The reason is simple: Diana never disappointed with her suggestions in all the cities she has lived in. Her friends told her hundreds of time «Why don’t you get a blog?» but in the end she preferred to suggest her friends one to one. A bit time consuming.

She is a freelance professional, working on social media, writing contents all day long, with a network of other professionals working remotely in different part of the world. Eventually opening a blog and an Instagram account was something natural for her, finally getting her own space.

Like the Greek goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature, MadriDiana favourite job is to hunt the coolest places in town, not the one you’ll find in the most famous travel guides, but the once you would receive from your closest friend.

Welcome to MadriDiana, read it, share it and don’t be afraid to write her at hola@madridiana.com

diciembre 1, 2016/0 Comentarios/por EnzoLauretta