Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Urban Grill: Airport’s Culinary Gem (Magnificent Madrid Series 27)


Urban Grill 
Airport’s Culinary Gem
Magnificent Madrid Series 27 

A day long transport made us decide to leave for
the airport before 6 AM as the transport strike was
expected to paralyze Madrid from 6 AM until 6 PM.



It was totally unexpected so we checked out at 5 AM
and left for the airport for a 5:10 PM flight back home.



After checking in our luggage, we spotted  Urban Grill,
the only restaurant that was open at that time...





...and we were happy as we found 
a place where we could eat breakfast.

 

We feasted on tasty croissants,



…creamy sugar raised donuts



…orange juice and coffee.

 

 

We explored the airport after breakfast to kill time, but-
decided to return to Urban Grill at noontime for lunch,
and is was a massive feast of some of the best tasting
grilled dishes offered in generously massive servings.

 

 

The Baby Back Ribs was grilled perfection.
The succulent meat was very tender that seem
to gloriously melt in the mouth when eaten.



The same thing is true with the T- Bone Steak. 
It was also perfectly grilled, juicy and very tender.
The steak was so good that my wife and I initially
intended it and we ended up ordering another one.



Being a family of burger lovers we were unanimous
in our judgments that the Grilled Organic Burger 
is one of the best tasting burgers that we ever tasted.



Just like the other two dishes, the plump burger patty
was perfectly grilled, full of flavor and very succulent.

 

I was served with fresh organic veggies,
topped with a sunny side up organic egg,
with crunchy potato strings on the side.



It was a very late lunch that we decided to stay put in 
Urban Grill while waiting for our flight at 5:10 PM.



Their comfy sofas made us feel like we were 
in an  airport lounge, and it was an awesome
 alternative for impoverished tourists like my family 
that  could not afford a first call airline tickets.

 

Shortly before departing
we snacked on fresh fruits,

 

 

…and Chocolate Cake,



…and headed to the departure gate
just in time for our boarding time.

 



Being trapped in Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport 
would have been a nightmare, had it not been for Urban Grill,



...that made our twelve- hours airport layover worthwhile as it
served as a comfortable, first class- like lounge and provided
my family with day long-  delicious and yet affordable food.

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
Magnificent Madrid Series 1 

La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
Magnificent Madrid Series 2 

Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
Magnificent Madrid Series 3 

Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
Magnificent Madrid Series 4



























Sunday, July 29, 2018

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport: 12 Hours Airport Trap Magnificent (Madrid Series 26)

Adolfo Suárez Madrid- Barajas Airport 
12 Hours Airport Trap
 Magnificent Madrid Series 26 

We didn’t see this coming.

 

A day long transport strike loomed on our last day in Madrid.
The hotel guests were advised to leave for the airport before
6 AM as the transport strike is expected to paralyze the city’s
transportation from 6 AM until 6 PM. It was totally unexpected.

 

Our flight is still at 5:10 PM, but there was nothing we can do
but leave for Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport at 5 AM,

 

…and we braced ourselves for more than 12 hour airport layover.

 

After checking in our luggage, we spotted  Urban Grill,
the only restaurant that was open at that time and we were
happy as we found a place where we could eat breakfast.

 

We feasted on croissants, sugar raised donuts and coffee,


…and later watched to sunrise on the airport tarmac.


Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
is the main airport serving Madrid in Spain.


…and considered the largest airport in Europe
by physical size, and Spain’s  busiest airport.

 





We passed time exploring the airport,


…and returned to Urban Grill at noontime,


….where we had a sumptuous lunch
of their delicious grilled specialties.


Urban Grill had comfortable sofas, served as our solace, 
and as a luxurious lounge, for impoverished tourists like us 
who could not afford a first class or  business class tickets.


We stayed in Urban Grilluntil late in
 the afternoon,and had a light snacks,


…before finally boarding
on our flight back home.

 

  

Being trapped in for more than 12 hours
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport,



 

...was a result of an unexpected transport strike
and we have wasted a precious whole day, which
we would have spent relaxing in Buen Retiro Park,

 

…than just doing nothing in an airport.

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
Magnificent Madrid Series 1 

La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
Magnificent Madrid Series 2 

Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
Magnificent Madrid Series 3 

Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
Magnificent Madrid Series 4
























Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Cafe & Te: Best Coffee Shop Paella (Magnificent Madrid Series 25)

Cafe & Te 
Best Coffee Shop Paella
Magnificent Madrid Series 25

Cafe & Te is located in Calle Arenal few steps
away from the hotel we were staying and all the
while we assumed that it was only a coffee shop.

 

We came to by cookies for my son,

 

… as he was craving for a Choco Chip Cookie,


…and later found out that it was a full restaurant,

 

…and offering much more,

 

…so we decided to dine there.


Of course, a meal in Spain is never complete without
a paella and we ordered Paella Valenciana this time.
This Cafe & Te version of this iconic dish looked
very basic as it was just topped with chicken and green
beans, yet it was flavorful and tasted very good.


The Tagliatelle Marinara was a soupy pasta.
It was unattractive and did not appear appetizing.
but the homemade tangy tomato sauce was full
of flavor and went well with the fresh shrimps
and mussels. It was one of the best pasta dishes
we ever tasted on this entire European vacation.


The Iberian Ham Pizza was to die for.
Perfectly baked dough, thick layer of
stringy and chewy mozzarella and topped
generously with Iberian ham. It was pure bliss.


We were fortunate to have dined at Café and Te,

 
 
...as it gave us an awesome culinary experience on
our penultimate day in the magnificent city of Madrid.

Read the links below for related posts

Caceres to Madrid 
Scenic Train Ride to the Spanish Capital City
Magnificent Madrid Series 1 

La Pausa 
Madrid’s Welcome Feast 
Magnificent Madrid Series 2 

Petit Palace Opera 
Homey Hotel at the Heart of Madrid
Magnificent Madrid Series 3 

Calle Arenal 
Madrid’s Vibrant Street Mall
Magnificent Madrid Series 4