<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg" target="_blank" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/wpid-Photo-May-19-2013-2310.jpg" id="blogsy-1375847730312.2275" class="alignleft" width="283" height="180" alt="Gourmet Experience Madrid: Spanish tapas in Madrid"></a></div>

<p style="text-align: justify;">El Corte Ingles, the famous Spanish department store, launched the Gourmet Experience several years ago and it&#39;s a great concept.  It&#39;s a luxury food court concept, with eat-in and take-away gourmet food and drink stands, eating areas, bars, and gourmet market....all rolled into one.  Each new inauguration has stepped up the concept and the latest one is by far the best: the Gran Via Gourmet Experience on the top floor of the Corte Ingles Callao.  Located right at the heart of Madrid and convenient for both tourist and locals alike, the space offers spectacular views of the Madrid skyline.  It&#39;s also initiated extended hours and is open until midnight seven days a week!  There is a wonderful terrace, great tapas bars and restaurants...it&#39;s the perfect place for a full meal, or just drinks and dessert.  Lots more detail after the break...</p>

<!--more--><p style="text-align: justify;">Look for the Corte Ingles building right in Plaza de Callao...the metro is Callao, but it&#39;s also very close to Sol.  You take the elevator at theentrance up to the ninth floor to enter the Gourmet Experience area.  If it&#39;s after store hours, there&#39;s a guard to make sure you only go up the  elevator and don&#39;t enter the rest of the store.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The Gourmet Experience has lots of parts and so much to choose from.  It offers a lot but still makes you feel comfortable...something El Corte Ingles is very good at.  </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">It&#39;s a great shopping experience, offering a wide selection of gourmet Spanish foods: jams, sweets, olive oils, sherry vinegars,and wine.  It&#39;s a great place to pick up gifts or stock up on your fine food pantry.  </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">They also have amazing deli counters, cheese, smoked fish, the finest Spanish cured meats.  You can take the deli offerings to go or ask them to prepare a nice sample platter to eat at a table. There are lots of great wines by the glass or bottle on offer at various vendors to have with your meal or pick something really special from the extensive bodega and they will open it for you without a corkage fee.  At other Gourmet Experiences, we have often made a whole meal of this mix and match technique: oysters, a great cheese platter, the best jamon ibérico and a nice bottle of wine.  Pick a table with a view and spend a very happy couple hours! </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">The tables scattered around, including the ones on the terrace are self service, meaning you have to go get your food and drink yourself.   The tables on the terrace are at a premium at peak evening hours, so divide and conquer!  The bar where I ordered my drink was a bit slow, but the prices were super low for premium rum and gin drinks...the benefits of do it yourself! </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">For a more full service food and drink experience you can try out one of the franchises that have taken up a space in the Gourmet Experience.  There is a nice range to choose from: several traditional Spanish tapas places, Mexican, Chinese, and a great seafood place, La Maquina. There&#39;s also a branch of Harina, one of Madrid&#39;s best bakeries and sandwich places.  One of Hamburgesa Nostra&#39;s stand&#39;s serves up over 30 types of outstanding hamburgers. </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">Some of the franchises have integrated seating, others you can use the general tables.</p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">My favorite place by far, by far, and one of my favorite places to eat in Madrid is StreetXO by David Muñoz the chef at Diverxo.  It&#39;s his interpretation of Asian street food.  Open kitchen, slightly raucous, super exciting and delicious food!  Check out my review. </p>

<p style="text-align: justify;">If you are feeling like a great view while you sip a drink or have a tapa, the Gourmet Experience Gran Via is a great way to look out over Madrid.  Nice. </p>

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