The Cuisine of Madrid - a guide

The Madrid region (one of Spain's smallest), as one would expect, is largely dominated by the capital city itself. It has been said, by gourmands and food critics alike, that Madrid does not really have an individual cuisine all of its own, rather it draws on influence from the whole of Spain, absorbing a rich tapestry of flavours and ingredients and throwing them into it's own gastronomic melting pot. This is certainly true to some extent; in no other city in Spain are visitors likely to be presented with such a wide cross section of the nations flavours. Despite this fact Madrid does still boast a few dishes that are synonymous with the capital and by absorbing so many influences; Madrid has become one of Spain's richest gastronomic regions. Famed for its stews and hotpots, Madrid's most famous dish is probably "Cocido Madrile