Exceptional Madrid

Experienced authentically

Every family has their own food traditions and recipes that get passed down with care. But if you’re the daughters of the late Clara María González de Amezúa, your family recipes happen to be an unparalleled collection of traditional Spanish Gastronomy. One can only imagine the flavors and memories that have passed through their kitchens.

Luckily for us, we don’t have to imagine. Clara Maria’s daughters, Maria and Gabriela, will be a part of the upcoming Oldways Madrid Culinaria, teaching a cooking class and preparing a lunch.

If you’ve ever cooked with a Spanish olive oil, ordered tapas at a Spanish bar, or prepared a Spanish recipe in your own kitchen, you’ve likely experienced the impact of the late Clara María González de Amezúa, founder of the legendary Alambique store and cooking school in Madrid and a culinary legend and cultural ambassador in her own right.

Even more poignant, Clara María’s daughter Maria recorded a video for us about her mother and the impact she made. Maria’s message highlights why we organize Culinarias. In everything we do at Oldways, we aim to inspire learning that food is one of the greatest gifts of heritage; that cooking is culture and connections; and that food is a bridge among cultures.

The exquisiteness of Madrid’s cuisine is rivaled only by the beauty of their art and the conviviality of their culture. Here are a few other pinch-me moments that we look forward to sharing with you in October:

Taking a curated tour of the Prado with renowned art expert Ronni Baer. You may have had a guided tour in a museum before, but there is nothing like a Ronni Baer tour. The last time Ronni gave us a tour of the Prado, I cried when she finished. Her presentation was so spectacular that I’ve never looked at an art museum the same way again. During the Culinaria Ronni will be with us as we go through other wonderful museums in Madrid – Reina Sofia and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, a jewel of a museum and one of her favorites, among them.

Participating in a guided extra virgin olive oil tasting from Fausto Luchetti. The long-time Executive Director of the International Olive Oil Council when EVOO was becoming mainstream in the US and worldwide is a great friend of Oldways and lives in Madrid—Fausto Luchetti. If you really want to understand how to taste extra virgin olive oil, Fausto’s oil tasting in Madrid this October is one that will answer any questions you have. He does not host public tastings, so it is a special treat that he will be sharing his time and expertise with us. Spain produces more olive oil than any other country, so it makes sense that the Olive Oil Council is also based in Madrid.

A vibrant, balanced lifestyle comes both from what we eat and how we live. Join us in Madrid as we champion the joy of shared meals, the vitality of connection and the richness of art and creativity as essential elements of overall wellbeing. When you add in a really yummy hotel room at the Wellington Hotel, you’ll be unable to resist!