Most people planning a vacation to foreign lands prepare with country or city-specific guidebooks, some internet research, and a bit of brush-up on pleasantries in the local language. At least, this is how my dad prepares.
My mother, on the other hand, buys no guidebooks, does no research, and figures that her elementary Italian should be "good enough" for navigating Spain. But she did come prepared with one publication: A 2-page article ripped out from Bon Appetit Magazine titled "Chocolate Lover's Madrid." The article divides the city center into six distinct areas and lists the best chocolate spots in each sextant.
The first spot we hit up was La Plateria Bar Museo, nestled in a small plaza off of the main boulevard by the Prado, took us two days to locate. This small tapas cafe boasts an unbeatable tarta de chocolate con avellanas (dark chocolate and hazelnut torte), enticing us to persist in our quest.
The elusive torte, while nothing too revolutionary, satisfies that simple yet perfect coupling of chocolate and nuts that makes it impossible to leave a less-than-clean plate.
Our second stop on the chocolate tour was Chocolateria San Gines, nearby the central Plaza Mayor, know by all near and far for their chocolate and churros.
To my father's delight, who has quested for years to find a hot chocolate worthy of The Polar Express' simile, "like a melted chocolate bar," the chocolate here is thicker and richer than pure cream. Too intense for me to drink straight up, it's a perfect dipping sauce for those crispy churros.
A land of chocolate lovers indeed!
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