I love your videos James; but could you do a video of Halal places to eat? Because it's all jamon and beer in Madrid :( i think i'll stick to vegetarian and sea-food when i go there this summer if i can't find any Halal places :D
Awesome video!! Your channel was part of the inspiration 🙏 to create our own channel where we showcase some tasty Spanish food! Keep up to good work man!
Boy, I am sold. James, Spain should pay you for marketing the tourism in their country! I can literally imagine myself sitting in that Hemingway chair and eating and drinking. Cannot believe you have only 16k subscribers.
The important thing he do is to show in some videos not touristic parts of Spain. Here we receive each year about 85 million turists (and Spain is only 45 million inhabitants) but people usually come first time to a place and they keep repeating the same place all their life and trust me there are a lot of amazing places to visit in Spain like Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria ... (all are big regions) that have a lot of history and amazing food.
Glad to see people from other countries like you being so passionate about our country, our culture, our food... You are a true madrileño!! Great video! Saludos amigo!
Madrid is my favorite city in Europe! I lived in Madrid when I was a university student. God willing I will be there next year. I will definitely be visiting these restaurants. I have visited El Botin. Salutations from, USA. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I am back home (USA). We had dinner at El Botin twice: Our first night in Madrid (end of Feb) and our last night in Madrid (eaelt March). I can't wait to go back. My prayer are with the victims and their family of this Covin19.
Toured Spain from North to South in 2016...love every thing Spain can offer. Tried the suckling pig in Botin as well as Segovia. Love your video ..thank you
Your dedication and your knowledgeable ambition makes your videos so exciting and so interesting. Can't wait for the next one . Excellent job. Hugs from London Uk
Another kiwi here. I love the history of the older parts of the world. You really did tell the stories of each place you showed us. I would love the mythical note to all the stories and like you my mind would wonder about all the people who had been to that place. Like you said we really don't have such a rich history because New Zealand is a young country in comparison. Thank you to you and your wife for sharing Spain with us, it's a country that I haven't visited but now I'd love to. I can't go as I'm terminally ill but your videos are the next best thing. Thank you
I have been to Spain and I will revisit, but in the mean time, I enjoy telling my friends and family that I have just returned from Spain via a virtual tour. Sometimes I just view the videos on a big screen television and I feel like I am right there with James and Yoli. I love Spain.
Me encanta el hecho de que hable inglés de una forma tan clara, pero luego pase al castellano y parezca que ha nacido en Madrid. Si yo me lo encontrara un día paseando y le escuchara hablar, no pensaría que vino de otro lugar. Sobre el vídeo, es increíble lo bien hecho que está. Es difícil encontrar tal calidad en vídeos de esta índole. Enhorabuena :')
I'm a emigrant from Madrid (Atocha street), and I hate you for the amount of nostalgia you make me feel. Keep loving my city, and love it for me too, it's the best.
James - your stories that blend history and mouth-watering food are wonderful. Having recently visited some of these places with you and Yoly I can't wait to do it all again!
We’ve just found you on YT and really enjoy your knowledge and personality! Our daughter will be living in Madrid for a year starting in September- we feel the passion for the culture and the country just from you and your wife’s wonderful way of sharing! We feel as if we know you already.... and It warms us to see the city and people where our daughter will be living...Thank you! We will be sure to find Devour when we visit as I am sure you will be able to provide a first class education of Madrid and Spain, we love knowing all the “local secret spots” that provide the chance to meet people and really get to know a place.... thanks again and we have a lot more uploads to review! The presentations are first rate! Ciao.....
Hello from Oh Canada lol...just wanted to tell you...you have no idea how much i love watching your shows on Magical Spain, it makes my heart sing and do backflips lol, I'm a Chef I sold my last restaurant in 2017 it was my 9th, and now i cannot bring myself to create a new one here....you see the food we get here is not fit for humans or animals, i find it almost impossible to make a dish to be excellent because of the supplies we get here, I have had Spain on my mind for a long time, as i think it is one of the best clean food countries that we have, so yes i think we will make the trip in the fall to visit Magical Spain...once again thank you and your lovely lady for showing us this Dreamland..all the best Chef Ninja
Enhorabuena por tus vídeos James, me siento muy orgulloso de que muestres nuestra cultura y gastronomía al mundo de esa forma tan buena. Saludos desde London, dude.
so glad to find your channel. Wish I had found it months before I visited Madrid. But I will be there again. I am planing to move to Spain in a few year,. Me encanta todo de espana
Fantastic video. Thanks for the tour/history lesson. It's always appreciated. We've been to all of them except, Taberna Antonio Sánchez and Casa Ciriaco. They're on our list for next year. We love the others, especially, La Bola. Also, it was great to meet you and Yoly a couple of weeks ago at La Posada De La Villa. You were so gracious. And Yoly, so, so charming. What a pleasure it was to have a minute with the both of you. See you next time. Adios and thanks again for all the videos you share with us.
I have been binge-watching your videos for a few weeks and came across this one. On our last trip to Spain in 2019 I made sure to make a reservation for Botin 6 months before! I celebrated my birthday with our granddaughter, husband and friends from Madrid. After ordering and trying to do justice to an entire suckling pig, we were given a tour of the entire restaurant - top to bottom! Our waiter had been working at Botin for 30 years. What a beautiful experience. They brought me a cake, sang and brought me a gift of their sangria pitcher! What a special day! Thank you James and Yoly for bringing such beautiful memories to mind! Saludos desde Orlando, Florida.
Muchísimas gracias as always! You're my tiny Spanish corner in internet, cause I'm still living in Poland. Everytime I watch your videos I feel closer to my land (Alicante). Again, thanks so much :)
I love all your videos of Spain. I began watching in mid 2019, because I was preparing my itinerary for my visit to Tenerife and then Andalusia area. I learned a lot from your videos, and I loved it when you paired up with Yoli. I had a wealth of information with me during my 18 days in Spain. Thank you for all you so. I really appreciate you and Yoli.
Omg I literally work 500m away from Casa Ciriaco and go past it every day and I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THIS!!! Thank you James for another amazing video, I really need to visit these places!
Hey James, just found your TH-cam channel. I’m moving to Madrid in two weeks and it’s helping me having the feeling of this amazing city already. Great job!! Cheers!
James and Yoli - this is just wonderful! You weave together the history and the current cuisine with great depth, passion and sophistication. I know this is high praise, but I just love your videos: they are miles ahead in quality compared to may I've seen. I hope to get to Madrid, and, perhaps this boy form the NW of England can experience a Devours tour! Meanwhile, I live it vicariously as I watch. I'm of to get a copy of Don Quixote :-) Muchas Gracias Tony
Thank you so very much James and Yoli for your FABULOUS videos. I only had a couple of days in Madrid but with your help I had a superb time and what I'd like to think a real taste of the city. It was my first visit but won't be the last. Huge congratulations to you both on the new addition to your family; love, fun, happiness and health to you all.
Loved this video. I have eaten at both La Bola and Botin. La Bola is less touristy. Botin can be full of tourists at certain times, but it is authentic. I like pork, but not a big fan of cochinillo. The roast baby lamb is equally excellent. I am glad you mentioned Segovia. It's a great day trip from Madrid, easy train ride. Historic town, great for walking. My favorite place to eat there is El Duque. I ate there the first time when I was in grad school in 1975 and my parents came for my Thanksgiving holiday. Best Thanksgiving meal ever. (I don't like turkey.) It's an old, family run restaurant like Botin. The long time owner/manager took care of us that day. Very simple meal of soup, roast lamb with potatoes and lettuce, tomato and onion salad, bread and red wine. My most recent visit was in the fall of 2018. The owner's daughter now runs the operation since his passing. She was going through the dining rooms greeting all the patrons. When I related my memories of her father during my first visit, she nearly came to tears. I hope to get back there again soon!
Keep up the great work with these videos you two. I use to work there in and around Madrid 26 years ago, building wood frame homes with materials ship from here in Canada. I miss it there, but your videos really take me back in time to when I was working there. I was there for only 6 months but the experience was priceless as are the memories.
Thank you for the tour, I will certainly seek out these places the next time I'm there. Keep up the good work.I lovr your videos and no nonsense delivery, con un poco de humor ! Gracias
Your videos are top. Learned a lot about the food, the wines, sherry's, vermouth, tapas. I am visiting Valencia in two weeks but Madrid will be next on my list to visit. Thank you for all the tips - my stay in Valencia will be more enjoyable now.
I have been to the Casa Botin years ago. I organized a group of 17 to give my wife a surprise birthday party. My tour guide had the Casa Botin arrange a cake and table for our group. We were on the 3rd floor. The staff was amazing and very helpful. We are from the US, and when we started singing the happy birthady song, another group from Brazil started singing it in Portuguese, and another group from Japan started singing in Japanese. It was such a festive evening, that I ordered Champange for those tables too. A fun dinner and evening. Walking down the stairs I polked my head into a room full of roasted sugkling pigs. What a sight.
I really enjoy watching your videos, James Blick, and your wife's contributions. I am soon going to Madrid again -- it will be my third time in that amazing city. And I am taking another tapas tour there as well. The real reason I'm commenting though is to say a couple of things about Botin. About two years ago I went there. And, it is clearly a BIG tourist trap nowadays. I was by myself and the floor I was on was mainly Asian (Chinese?) tourists. The food was okay -- I did not get the pig, as I don't eat much pork -- but, of course, one must go there if visiting Madrid. I didn't go to Botin the second time I visited Madrid (and probably won't again on my third trip this upcoming May). However, the thing I most wanted to say is this: You mentioned Hemingway's "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Right before going to Botin I bought "The Sun Also Rises" -- but got it in Spanish, which is "Fiesta." It is in that book, which is mainly about the festival at Pamplona, in which Hemingway, er...Jake Barnes, and his love interest eat in Botin! It's the second to last scene in the book. So, while sitting in Botin, and eating, I turned to that passage and read about Hemingway a Lady Ashley eating in Botin, right before they head out to take a carriage ride along Gran Via. So, if someone wants to get a bit of the history of the place there, they should read Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises." Well, that's it. Again, love you guys' videos about tapas bars in Madrid!
@@cynthiastevens1626 I was at Torrejon also between 1973 and 1976. I was on a KC-135Q flight crew and we went there TDY about once a year and stayed for around a month. One of my favorite places to go to.
@@oldnavcat figured you were military. My husband and I were both docs at the base from 1970-73 so just passed each other there. I’m sure you knew of Casa Paco which was popular with military as well.
@@cynthiastevens1626 The name is very familiar, but I can't place it. I vaguely remember a barbeque place outside The town of Torrejon that was great too. Also enjoyed great food at Hostel del Cardinale in Toledo. The first time I tasted gazpacho Toledano. Loved it and make it myself to this day! And of course the tascas. So much to love in the area!
Know the restaurant in Toledo. I, as well, learned gazpacho from our live in “nanny” and make it every summer as my specialty. Keep in touch with our nanny on FB. She was 18 and now quite matronly, but lovely. Good “talking to you” and remembering Madrid and food.
I'm from Madrid and I must say this is pretty amazing. I didn't know about these historic places, but I'll definitely go check them out. I love your videos! Great work
Man, I love your videos. A foodie's delight. Very interesting story about the possible Jewish origins of cocido. Present-day orthodox Ashkenazi Jews still make the Sabbath dish, which is called Cholent. Of course, no pork.
I have been following you guys since 6K followers and I have been waiting ever since for you to cross 100K followers. So happy for you guys. I came to Spain in 2019 and your videos were the most helpful in making the best of my journey.
Omg! Love it! Going to Madrid this month and I will definitely go to some those places! Fascinating that culture and history!! Would u add another place nowadays?
Your insight and passion is appreciated . You have inspired me and my family to go on our first visit to Spain next year.I have saved your video for our future trip! Salute !
I love Casa Botin. We were married in Spain 50 some years ago and returned 3 years ago on a 50th anniversary trip. We were treated like royalty when the manager heard our story about our wedding reception being held here.
Thank you guys for another wonderful video, I also thank you for not just sharing the good but the good and the bad! Hope you guys enjoy the rest of your stay and I’m looking forward to seeing the your next video’s
Hola vivo en Inglaterra y estoy con mi novio flipando soy de Madrid y sabía tanto de Madrid como tú y eso que viví toda mi vida en el centro Y NOS HA DADO SUPER ENVIDIA DE TODO LO QUE COMES os queremos Ross y Elena ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'll not be in Spain until October but it is very difficult to watch these videos without getting hungry.....alas, I have one problem. what am I going to do with my vegetarian wife while I'm enjoying my tapas, etc. In addition, you don't mention the beer available in the various tapas places. Especially, in an earlier video ,you stated Spain was a beer drinking country. You're a fantastic ambassador for Spain. Cheers
Thank you! There are lots of veggie options in tapas bars. Google it and you’ll find a post by Devour Madrid food tours on it. And generally there is only one beer available - but people drink a lot of it
Dear god we made a huge mistake on our recent trip to Madrid. We actually looked at La Bola but decided to keep walking down Gran Via. We ended up in a very convincing, but TERRIBLE tourist trap a few blocks down. The food was horrible. And we could have had COCIDO! Mala suerte... Next time. Loved this video! I too am a fan of the blending of history and food. Looking forward to seeing these spots on our next trip!
Love your presentation and passion for the culture. The portions are enormous! We will be in Madrid in a couple of weeks and will certainly try some of your suggestions. Thank you from British Columbia.
Hi James and Yoli - I love the look of la Bola and the Casa Ciriaco- wow, i learn so much from your videos! Will definitely be visiting these places. Thanks again for posting.
Looks amazing 😁 I love all your informative clips I have just binge watched 1/2 of them. I was just wondering could you give some more information on Spanish vegetarian food please. How to order where to go ect
Me encanta la calidad de tus vídeos, realmente parecen pequeños documentales de televisión. Aunque me da pena no entender muy bien lo que dices y mira que lo intento jeje. Me encanta ver como disfrutas la comida y como transmites nuestra cultura gastronómica, que como sabes, es casi como una religión. Aquí la comida une mucho, de hecho, los mejores recuerdos que poseo es en una mesa comiendo. Esos momentos familiares no tienen precio!! Espero ver mucho más de tus vídeos y que te dejes caer por alicante a comerte un buen arroz a banda o un buen caldero de pescado. Un beso grande, sigue así!!
Great video! thanks James and wife. We will visit Madrid in two weeks and will try to go to those iconic places listed in the video. Those made us remember our time in Bogota, Colombia, when younger in the streets of el barrio La Candelaria, founded by the first Spaniards in South America. E.g. La Puerta Falsa. Congrats!
Another excellent vid. I'm going back to visit old friends in April and these are really getting me in the mood! I would love to see you going to Segovia and doing a vid there. Restaurante Jose Maria has the best cochinillo in the whole world, washed down with their own house Ribera del Duero
Confirmado. Mi madre y su familia eran de Segovia y he estado muchas veces alli, y el mejor cochinillo es el de José María, aunque Cándido o Duque sean más famosos.
Mate, you should be hired by the Madrid Tourist Board. Every time I watch your videos I just want to fly over there. Won't be 2019 but still planning a week in Madrid July 2020. We'll contact you before we fly. Cheers!
Which of the 5 restaurants do you most want to visit. 🤔Let me know!
Teberna Antonio! That place looks stunning
I love your videos James; but could you do a video of Halal places to eat? Because it's all jamon and beer in Madrid :( i think i'll stick to vegetarian and sea-food when i go there this summer if i can't find any Halal places :D
La Bola for the clay pots, Antonio for the wine vats, and Botin for its history!
You should visit Zaragoza , I recommended a “tubo” tapas zone and the mitic restaurants “Calamar Bravo” and “El cachirulo”
Awesome video!! Your channel was part of the inspiration 🙏 to create our own channel where we showcase some tasty Spanish food! Keep up to good work man!
Boy, I am sold. James, Spain should pay you for marketing the tourism in their country! I can literally imagine myself sitting in that Hemingway chair and eating and drinking. Cannot believe you have only 16k subscribers.
Thanks Bud! The subscriber count is rising... so that's good!
I totally support if some of my taxes go to this guy
Jeje gracias tío!!
I agree!! Fantastic channel and host hope he gets millions of subs
The important thing he do is to show in some videos not touristic parts of Spain. Here we receive each year about 85 million turists (and Spain is only 45 million inhabitants) but people usually come first time to a place and they keep repeating the same place all their life and trust me there are a lot of amazing places to visit in Spain like Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria ... (all are big regions) that have a lot of history and amazing food.
Glad to see people from other countries like you being so passionate about our country, our culture, our food... You are a true madrileño!! Great video! Saludos amigo!
Thank you!!
Madrid is my favorite city in Europe! I lived in Madrid when I was a university student. God willing I will be there next year. I will definitely be visiting these restaurants. I have visited El Botin. Salutations from, USA. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I am back home (USA). We had dinner at El Botin twice: Our first night in Madrid (end of Feb) and our last night in Madrid (eaelt March). I can't wait to go back. My prayer are with the victims and their family of this Covin19.
Your passion is infectious.
I hope so! Thanks for watching!
I agree 😁
Toured Spain from North to South in 2016...love every thing Spain can offer. Tried the suckling pig in Botin as well as Segovia. Love your video ..thank you
Glad you had a great time!!
Your dedication and your knowledgeable ambition makes your videos so exciting and so interesting. Can't wait for the next one . Excellent job. Hugs from London Uk
Thank you for much Mica!
Totally agree
Another kiwi here. I love the history of the older parts of the world. You really did tell the stories of each place you showed us. I would love the mythical note to all the stories and like you my mind would wonder about all the people who had been to that place. Like you said we really don't have such a rich history because New Zealand is a young country in comparison. Thank you to you and your wife for sharing Spain with us, it's a country that I haven't visited but now I'd love to. I can't go as I'm terminally ill but your videos are the next best thing. Thank you
Thank you Amy for sharing this. I'm so sorry to hear about your illness. Lots of love from me and Yoly xxx
I have been to Spain and I will revisit, but in the mean time, I enjoy telling my friends and family that I have just returned from Spain via a virtual tour. Sometimes I just view the videos on a big screen television and I feel like I am right there with James and Yoli. I love Spain.
Me encanta el hecho de que hable inglés de una forma tan clara, pero luego pase al castellano y parezca que ha nacido en Madrid. Si yo me lo encontrara un día paseando y le escuchara hablar, no pensaría que vino de otro lugar.
Sobre el vídeo, es increíble lo bien hecho que está. Es difícil encontrar tal calidad en vídeos de esta índole. Enhorabuena :')
Muchísimas gracias!!!
he said ha was from Lavapies, a barrio in the outskirts of Madrid
Me encantas. Aprendo inglés mientras aprendo sobre mi pais
haha me alegro !
I'm a emigrant from Madrid (Atocha street), and I hate you for the amount of nostalgia you make me feel. Keep loving my city, and love it for me too, it's the best.
Haha sorry!!
James - your stories that blend history and mouth-watering food are wonderful. Having recently visited some of these places with you and Yoly I can't wait to do it all again!
Thanks ma!
His inmersion, especially in what concerns the daily habits of the spaniards is surprising.
Cheers !!
Totally!
What a beautiful video!!! Tanta historia tiene España!
Gracias!!!
We’ve just found you on YT and really enjoy your knowledge and personality! Our daughter will be living in Madrid for a year starting in September- we feel the passion for the culture and the country just from you and your wife’s wonderful way of sharing! We feel as if we know you already.... and It warms us to see the city and people where our daughter will be living...Thank you! We will be sure to find Devour when we visit as I am sure you will be able to provide a first class education of Madrid and Spain, we love knowing all the “local secret spots” that provide the chance to meet people and really get to know a place.... thanks again and we have a lot more uploads to review! The presentations are first rate! Ciao.....
As Spaniard, I love this guy,,, you are cool boy !! :))))
Hello from Oh Canada lol...just wanted to tell you...you have no idea how much i love watching your shows on Magical Spain, it makes my heart sing and do backflips lol, I'm a Chef I sold my last restaurant in 2017 it was my 9th, and now i cannot bring myself to create a new one here....you see the food we get here is not fit for humans or animals, i find it almost impossible to make a dish to be excellent because of the supplies we get here, I have had Spain on my mind for a long time, as i think it is one of the best clean food countries that we have, so yes i think we will make the trip in the fall to visit Magical Spain...once again thank you and your lovely lady for showing us this Dreamland..all the best Chef Ninja
como madrileña solo darte las gracias por acercar la gastronomía y las costumbres españolas tan maravillosamente como lo haces.
Gracias a ti!!!
Enhorabuena por tus vídeos James, me siento muy orgulloso de que muestres nuestra cultura y gastronomía al mundo de esa forma tan buena. Saludos desde London, dude.
so glad to find your channel. Wish I had found it months before I visited Madrid. But I will be there again. I am planing to move to Spain in a few year,. Me encanta todo de espana
Awesome - thanks Steve!
Fantastic video. Thanks for the tour/history lesson. It's always appreciated.
We've been to all of them except, Taberna Antonio Sánchez and Casa Ciriaco. They're on our list for next year. We love the others, especially, La Bola.
Also, it was great to meet you and Yoly a couple of weeks ago at La Posada De La Villa. You were so gracious. And Yoly, so, so charming. What a pleasure it was to have a minute with the both of you.
See you next time. Adios and thanks again for all the videos you share with us.
Bravo James and Yoly. Another wonderful video. Great that you are impressing the locals.
thanks Dad!
I have been binge-watching your videos for a few weeks and came across this one. On our last trip to Spain in 2019 I made sure to make a reservation for Botin 6 months before! I celebrated my birthday with our granddaughter, husband and friends from Madrid. After ordering and trying to do justice to an entire suckling pig, we were given a tour of the entire restaurant - top to bottom! Our waiter had been working at Botin for 30 years. What a beautiful experience. They brought me a cake, sang and brought me a gift of their sangria pitcher! What a special day! Thank you James and Yoly for bringing such beautiful memories to mind! Saludos desde Orlando, Florida.
Cada vez que veo tus vídeos, me enamoro mas de España :)
Ole! Gracias Susana!
Muchísimas gracias as always! You're my tiny Spanish corner in internet, cause I'm still living in Poland. Everytime I watch your videos I feel closer to my land (Alicante). Again, thanks so much :)
Ole, gracias Javier
I love all your videos of Spain. I began watching in mid 2019, because I was preparing my itinerary for my visit to Tenerife and then Andalusia area. I learned a lot from your videos, and I loved it when you paired up with Yoli. I had a wealth of information with me during my 18 days in Spain. Thank you for all you so. I really appreciate you and Yoli.
These in-depth videos are terrific James. It allows the viewer to really get a feel for the subject (historic restaurants). More of this please!
Thanks Erin!!
Omg I literally work 500m away from Casa Ciriaco and go past it every day and I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THIS!!! Thank you James for another amazing video, I really need to visit these places!
Glad you enjoyed it¡
Hey James, just found your TH-cam channel. I’m moving to Madrid in two weeks and it’s helping me having the feeling of this amazing city already. Great job!! Cheers!
Fantastic - I’m glad!
James and Yoli - this is just wonderful! You weave together the history and the current cuisine with great depth, passion and sophistication. I know this is high praise, but I just love your videos: they are miles ahead in quality compared to may I've seen. I hope to get to Madrid, and, perhaps this boy form the NW of England can experience a Devours tour! Meanwhile, I live it vicariously as I watch. I'm of to get a copy of Don Quixote :-)
Muchas Gracias
Tony
Hi James Amazing, bringing back memorys when i when to Madrid! Love you're work and vlogs Australia
Thanks Andrew!
I am going to Spain in 2 weeks!!...and find your videos fun and very informative
Your videos are amazing! I just signed my family up for one of your tours. We have enjoyed ALL of your videos.
Awesome Christina! We can't wait to have you guys on tour!!
Gracias por el aprecio a España. Disfruta de lo bueno !
When we go to Madrid is mandatory to go to Botin ,we are Portuguese and live in Lisbon so we are quite close! Your videos are great !
Thank you!
Thank you so very much James and Yoli for your FABULOUS videos. I only had a couple of days in Madrid but with your help I had a superb time and what I'd like to think a real taste of the city. It was my first visit but won't be the last. Huge congratulations to you both on the new addition to your family; love, fun, happiness and health to you all.
Loved this video. I have eaten at both La Bola and Botin. La Bola is less touristy. Botin can be full of tourists at certain times, but it is authentic. I like pork, but not a big fan of cochinillo. The roast baby lamb is equally excellent. I am glad you mentioned Segovia. It's a great day trip from Madrid, easy train ride. Historic town, great for walking. My favorite place to eat there is El Duque. I ate there the first time when I was in grad school in 1975 and my parents came for my Thanksgiving holiday. Best Thanksgiving meal ever. (I don't like turkey.) It's an old, family run restaurant like Botin. The long time owner/manager took care of us that day. Very simple meal of soup, roast lamb with potatoes and lettuce, tomato and onion salad, bread and red wine. My most recent visit was in the fall of 2018. The owner's daughter now runs the operation since his passing. She was going through the dining rooms greeting all the patrons. When I related my memories of her father during my first visit, she nearly came to tears. I hope to get back there again soon!
Thank you James for this vid! I am going to visit Madrid this Thursday!
Awesome - have an amazing time!
Describes todo con tanta magia que haces que nos volvamos a enamorar de nuestra ciudad. Gracias
Keep up the great work with these videos you two. I use to work there in and around Madrid 26 years ago, building wood frame homes with materials ship from here in Canada. I miss it there, but your videos really take me back in time to when I was working there. I was there for only 6 months but the experience was priceless as are the memories.
Thank you for the tour, I will certainly seek out these places the next time I'm there. Keep up the good work.I lovr your videos and no nonsense delivery, con un poco de humor ! Gracias
Your videos are top. Learned a lot about the food, the wines, sherry's, vermouth, tapas. I am visiting Valencia in two weeks but Madrid will be next on my list to visit. Thank you for all the tips - my stay in Valencia will be more enjoyable now.
Love it! Casa Alberto has been my go to place since the first visit in 2008 (been back over 10 times since). What a great intro to Madrid!
I have been to the Casa Botin years ago. I organized a group of 17 to give my wife a surprise birthday party. My tour guide had the Casa Botin arrange a cake and table for our group. We were on the 3rd floor. The staff was amazing and very helpful. We are from the US, and when we started singing the happy birthady song, another group from Brazil started singing it in Portuguese, and another group from Japan started singing in Japanese. It was such a festive evening, that I ordered Champange for those tables too. A fun dinner and evening. Walking down the stairs I polked my head into a room full of roasted sugkling pigs. What a sight.
Dude! I'm learning more about my culture by watching your videos. Good on ya!
Awesome Daniel!!
Awesome Daniel!!
I really enjoy watching your videos, James Blick, and your wife's contributions. I am soon going to Madrid again -- it will be my third time in that amazing city. And I am taking another tapas tour there as well. The real reason I'm commenting though is to say a couple of things about Botin. About two years ago I went there. And, it is clearly a BIG tourist trap nowadays. I was by myself and the floor I was on was mainly Asian (Chinese?) tourists. The food was okay -- I did not get the pig, as I don't eat much pork -- but, of course, one must go there if visiting Madrid. I didn't go to Botin the second time I visited Madrid (and probably won't again on my third trip this upcoming May). However, the thing I most wanted to say is this: You mentioned Hemingway's "For Whom The Bell Tolls." Right before going to Botin I bought "The Sun Also Rises" -- but got it in Spanish, which is "Fiesta." It is in that book, which is mainly about the festival at Pamplona, in which Hemingway, er...Jake Barnes, and his love interest eat in Botin! It's the second to last scene in the book. So, while sitting in Botin, and eating, I turned to that passage and read about Hemingway a Lady Ashley eating in Botin, right before they head out to take a carriage ride along Gran Via. So, if someone wants to get a bit of the history of the place there, they should read Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises." Well, that's it. Again, love you guys' videos about tapas bars in Madrid!
One of my favorite videos of yours! Thanks!
Glad you liked it!!
the memories keep coming back, you're killing me!
I love Spain. You are my Go To adviser for my trip planning. I watched dozens of your videos in 2019 before my visit. Thank you.
Muchas gracias por tus vídeos. Es triste que tengan de venir de fuera a poner en valor nuestro país. Un abrazo.
Wow. Fantastic. Spain is on the top of my travel list.
Just love your videos, I really appreciate your love for my beautiful Madrid.
Gracias Casi!
Loved this vid. Will be visiting Madrid in April - this is very helpful!
I'm glad it'll be helpful! Have a great time in Madrid!
I ate in Botin forty five years ago and still recall it as one of my best dining experiences!
I also ate there 48 years ago (while at Air force base Torrejon) and have been back many times - always outstanding.
@@cynthiastevens1626 I was at Torrejon also between 1973 and 1976. I was on a KC-135Q flight crew and we went there TDY about once a year and stayed for around a month. One of my favorite places to go to.
@@oldnavcat figured you were military. My husband and I were both docs at the base from 1970-73 so just passed each other there. I’m sure you knew of Casa Paco which was popular with military as well.
@@cynthiastevens1626 The name is very familiar, but I can't place it. I vaguely remember a barbeque place outside The town of Torrejon that was great too. Also enjoyed great food at Hostel del Cardinale in Toledo. The first time I tasted gazpacho Toledano. Loved it and make it myself to this day! And of course the tascas. So much to love in the area!
Know the restaurant in Toledo. I, as well, learned gazpacho from our live in “nanny” and make it every summer as my specialty. Keep in touch with our nanny on FB. She was 18 and now quite matronly, but lovely. Good “talking to you” and remembering Madrid and food.
I'm from Madrid and I must say this is pretty amazing. I didn't know about these historic places, but I'll definitely go check them out. I love your videos! Great work
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your videos... just amazing!! Love from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
Awesome - welcome!
Man, I love your videos. A foodie's delight.
Very interesting story about the possible Jewish origins of cocido. Present-day orthodox Ashkenazi Jews still make the Sabbath dish, which is called Cholent. Of course, no pork.
Interesting, I didn’t know. I’ll read further.
We went to Botin last week, absolutely stunning place. You really get a sense of stepping back in time.
Glad you enjoyed it!!
I wish I saw your videos prior to going to Madrid. We missed so much.
Me encanta que resaltes la historia del Lugar!!! 👏👏👏🌟
James you are amazing ! thumps up keep doing what you do you are a natural for this kind of work
I have been following you guys since 6K followers and I have been waiting ever since for you to cross 100K followers. So happy for you guys. I came to Spain in 2019 and your videos were the most helpful in making the best of my journey.
Thank you!!
Uno de vuestros mejores videos. Madrid se lleva en la piel dónde quiera que estés, seas madrileño, kiwi o andaluz como yo!
I love the videos! They helped me out in Lisbon and in Seville. They should serve me well for my trip to Northern Portugal and Madrid, next year!
Fantastic video once again mate
Omg! Love it! Going to Madrid this month and I will definitely go to some those places! Fascinating that culture and history!! Would u add another place nowadays?
Just so you know, I revisit many of your videos. I learn more and more each time.
Thank you for all the history around all the dishes your trying,love it!
I really like these kind of videos! Great job guys!
You guys need a TV show of your own!
I love your videos. I watch them over and over.
Thank you Amelia!
Your insight and passion is appreciated . You have inspired me and my family to go on our first visit to Spain next year.I have saved your video for our future trip! Salute !
Excelente reportaje turístico que lo seguimos y disfrutamos en Madrid
Gracias por mostrar lo mejor de nuestra tierra.
Congratulations on the channels growth! Beautiful locations
Thanks Will!
I love Casa Botin. We were married in Spain 50 some years ago and returned 3 years ago on a 50th anniversary trip. We were treated like royalty when the manager heard our story about our wedding reception being held here.
No sé como has accedido a esas bodegas, pero chapeau.Un video genial, lleno de detalles gastronomicos, históricos, great job and keep doing so! Paco
You are the best, thank you to show us all these wonderful places from my birth place. :-)
Gracias!!
Thank you guys for another wonderful video, I also thank you for not just sharing the good but the good and the bad! Hope you guys enjoy the rest of your stay and I’m looking forward to seeing the your next video’s
These are fantastic videos. I love Madrid. It’s really great to watch this couple who obviously feel the same about this city.
Another fun, informative, infectious video James, thank you
Hola vivo en Inglaterra y estoy con mi novio flipando soy de Madrid y sabía tanto de Madrid como tú y eso que viví toda mi vida en el centro Y NOS HA DADO SUPER ENVIDIA DE TODO LO QUE COMES os queremos Ross y Elena ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I'll not be in Spain until October but it is very difficult to watch these videos without getting hungry.....alas, I have one problem. what am I going to do with my vegetarian wife while I'm enjoying my tapas, etc. In addition, you don't mention the beer available in the various tapas places. Especially, in an earlier video ,you stated Spain was a beer drinking country. You're a fantastic ambassador for Spain. Cheers
Thank you! There are lots of veggie options in tapas bars. Google it and you’ll find a post by Devour Madrid food tours on it. And generally there is only one beer available - but people drink a lot of it
Que genial vídeo, James! Admiro tu pasión por España. Espero que primera vez usted incluiría los precios de las comidas 😁
Great video again. I love them.
Thank you!
Dear god we made a huge mistake on our recent trip to Madrid. We actually looked at La Bola but decided to keep walking down Gran Via. We ended up in a very convincing, but TERRIBLE tourist trap a few blocks down. The food was horrible. And we could have had COCIDO! Mala suerte... Next time. Loved this video! I too am a fan of the blending of history and food. Looking forward to seeing these spots on our next trip!
Next time William :)
An advice. Look where the Spanish eat, not the tourists.
Thanks for doing this video! I loved and will try some of these places when I visit in 2024!
Love your presentation and passion for the culture. The portions are enormous!
We will be in Madrid in a couple of weeks and will certainly try some of your suggestions.
Thank you from British Columbia.
Hi James and Yoli - I love the look of la Bola and the Casa Ciriaco- wow, i learn so much from your videos! Will definitely be visiting these places. Thanks again for posting.
I love your enthusiasm....and I totally agree with you...Madrid is full of wonders. A fantastic experience!!!!
Thank you nice video, love Spanish Food is The Best
Looks amazing 😁 I love all your informative clips I have just binge watched 1/2 of them. I was just wondering could you give some more information on Spanish vegetarian food please. How to order where to go ect
On the list!!
Me encanta la calidad de tus vídeos, realmente parecen pequeños documentales de televisión. Aunque me da pena no entender muy bien lo que dices y mira que lo intento jeje. Me encanta ver como disfrutas la comida y como transmites nuestra cultura gastronómica, que como sabes, es casi como una religión. Aquí la comida une mucho, de hecho, los mejores recuerdos que poseo es en una mesa comiendo. Esos momentos familiares no tienen precio!! Espero ver mucho más de tus vídeos y que te dejes caer
por alicante a comerte un buen arroz a banda o un buen
caldero de pescado. Un beso grande, sigue así!!
Awesome vid!! I was hoping you'd do one on restaurants. Only problem is fitting them into my trip! 😁
Haha yes that’s the challenge!!
Genial, el video, vivo al sur de Madrid y he aprendido cosas nuevas.
Me encanta tu acento español, nadie diría que eres extranjero
Un saludo!
Great video! thanks James and wife. We will visit Madrid in two weeks and will try to go to those iconic places listed in the video. Those made us remember our time in Bogota, Colombia, when younger in the streets of el barrio La Candelaria, founded by the first Spaniards in South America. E.g. La Puerta Falsa. Congrats!
Im so glad u sharing this! Wonderful videos!
Excellent video. Very interesting.
Thank you!
I love your vids!!
Another excellent vid. I'm going back to visit old friends in April and these are really getting me in the mood! I would love to see you going to Segovia and doing a vid there. Restaurante Jose Maria has the best cochinillo in the whole world, washed down with their own house Ribera del Duero
Confirmado. Mi madre y su familia eran de Segovia y he estado muchas veces alli, y el mejor cochinillo es el de José María, aunque Cándido o Duque sean más famosos.
Mate, you should be hired by the Madrid Tourist Board. Every time I watch your videos I just want to fly over there. Won't be 2019 but still planning a week in Madrid July 2020. We'll contact you before we fly. Cheers!
Yo creo que estás hablando de otro vídeo y otra persona, pero bueno 🤷♀️