Foods to Eat in Spain - Madrid

- Patatas Bravas -

Almost every European country has it's own pride and joy potato dish, whether it's chips from England, Pommes Dauphine from France or Reibekuchen from Germany (to name but a few). Here in Spain, or more specifically Madrid, the potato dish of choice is perhaps one of the most well known Spanish dishes, Patatas Bravas.

Patatas Bravas is a tapas dish consisting of potatoes which are cut into chunks and fried until golden. However, it wouldn't be Patatas Bravas without the typical Bravas Sauce, which is a tomato sauce with added Pimentón peppers for that spicy kick. Having said this, with Patatas Bravas being such a versatile dish, it has been adapted by the different regions of Spain, each with their own variation of the favourite. In Valencia, the potatoes are served with a sauce based on olive oil, vinegar and peppers and in other areas of Spain, it is served with an aioli or even a combination of garlic aioli and Bravas sauce. Sometimes, even mayonnaise is added to temper down the spice and give the dish an overall creamy taste.

In addition, Patatas Bravas is often topped with a variety of foods as according to individual taste and preference with some common examples being chorizo and Bacalao.

Whilst the exact establishment that created this dish first is up for debate, a few different tapas bars in Madrid claim the title of original inventor, amongst which include Casa Pellico, La Casona and Las Bravas (formerly Vinícola Aurora Barranco). 

Inventor aside, what is known for sure is that in the 1950's, this dish was at the height of its popularity with queues stretching out into the streets. Sadly, most of the aforementioned tapas bars are now closed. On the bright side, the pain of choice is reduced as Las Bravas is now the only bar still open since its establishment in 1933 and nowadays, it is so successful that it has multiple locations in Madrid.

If you want a Patatas Bravas that is a bit different compared to your traditional fare, then head to Vi Cool near the Plaza del Angel where they also have Patatas Bravas, albeit with a modern twist. There, the potatoes are baked (confit potatoes) rather than fried and is topped daintily with a squeeze of salsa and aioli. It is then simply finished with a dusting of parsley and is a mouthful of pleasure.