You are welcome to it. The figures don't stack up so the ingredients are bound to be crap. We saw a place in Cheltenham last week, offering sausage or bacon butties for £1 or a full breakfast for £2.50. They sure must use the crappiest sausage to do that, they aren't running charities! Some of you aren't very bright when it comes to costing are you

I will be in Madrid next week so will be beating a path to it's door - NOT!

I don't get the Spanish obsession with ham, ham and more bloody ham - occasionally it's very nice, but don't they ever get sick of the stuff?

We have seen a place online called El Cisne Azul which we will be checking out, though, as it looks interesting. Do you know it?

I'm afraid I don't know it. According to 11870 it gets a 4 out of 5 and TripAdvisor 4.5 out of 5 A specialist in mushrooms and funghi apparently. According to the map it's slap-bang in the centre of the gay zone Chueca, so you will see plenty of outlandish folk walking around.

http://11870.com/pro/el-cisne-azul
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...ul-Madrid.html

A good chorizo, lomo and jamon iberico is some of the best food in the world

And really, they coudnt be any different from each other. You can get bog standard versions of each which are OK for sandwiches, but it is the better quality ones which are incredible, and sort after at the top restaurants all over the world

Yes, we'd seen the online reviews, and the funghi bit was what attracted us. The gay zone bit is no problem, I've always found them very pleasant places to spend time in, never any hassle.

All I need to do is stay clear of the riot police and all will be well!

This article makes for interesting reading, if only because it's bulls*** according to the comments below it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...st-restaurants

We had tapas at lunchtime today, which is normal around twice a week at least. We had chicken, sausages and aubergine in separate spicy dishes, along with bread and Ali Olly. It wasn't a gourmet meal, but nor were the prices.

Tapas are an ideal snack when out socialising. It's informal eating with a large choice according to your tastes. It beats sipping pints of beer with the odd packet of crisps, which I've found to be the UK equivalent.

On the other hand, I still miss the nights out in the UK where a drinking session would be complemented by a Vindaloo at the end of it.

ISTR many pubs used to have large glass jars of pickled eggs and gherkins that you could drop into the bag of crisps. They seem to have disappeared
Also remember some pub landlords who refused to stock crisps because they said they made their beer go flat - although that was probably due to the way the looked after their barrells.

after a good session I find I can visit the loo without having a Vinda

Living in an expat area, I could easily replicate the English experience of a session followed by the inevitable curry top-up, and talking to God on the porcelain telephone the next morning.

I don't think I've ever done it here, and I don't know why. The Spanish place I was in today sells lager, there is an Indian restaurant right opposite, probably with a direct line to the porcelain God.

But it doesn't feel right; I was watching a few alcoholics staring into space, bent people having trouble walking, a mad German couple shouting at the harassed waitress, a stern and correct Englishman telling a lookie lookie man to f**** off, and a couple of South American ladies who wouldn't need their men of any age to purchase blue pills.

In that kind of environment tapas are the most appropriate meals and my little dog, sitting at my side, loves them.

I have not had a line to God, although there have been a couple of "Oh God" statements overheard.
Did try calling my friend "Hughie" a few times but only got an echo and a moan back.

We have a very nice bar, good tapas, who also serve quality selection of ice cream. after one drink in the peak of summer the OH has insisted on an ice cream instead of a drink - but has insisted this is "with tapas" which has caused a bit of hilarity amongst all concerned.

our dog is too anti-social to take to the bar with us, but I am sure if it is the right sort of tapas you can get yours a serving for himself
after all we are "mad guiri's"

Our local does little Norfolk Tapas....

Yes, they are practically a meal! I've just got back from Cáceres and I put on tons of weight (I have zero willpower when food is put in front of me). Before that we were up in Guipúzcoa (Basque country) and the pinchos were excellent there. It really does vary around the country.

I really liked Extramadura, the people, the wildlife, countryside and all, just a little different.
I recall going in one place which to all appearances from outside had obviously been a magnificent church at one time and remained more or less much as it had always have been.
Apart from the tapas and drinks bar, little had changed inside with some of the original pews still in place as well as the alter.
Must be one of the most unusual bars I've been to.