Madrid Tapas Tours

The Old Convent 

 

You will be taken by coach from your hotel to a Carmelite convent situated in a village to the north of Madrid.

 

The convent was built between 1670 and 1674 and was designed to house twenty one Carmelitas descalzas (bare-footed Carmelite nuns). It was used by the order until the middle of the 1970’s when it was abandoned because of its terrible state of repair. In 1980 it was declared a National Monument and saved from ruin. It has been restored and now has a hotel and holds events in its beautiful patios and claustro. It was voted best European hotel for corporate events 2006 by Conde-Nast Johansens.

 

Aperitif

 

You will be welcomed at the main door of the Convent and escorted to the porticoed cloister where you will be served with an aperitif of sherry, wine, beer or soft drinks, and canapés.

 

In the patio there will be a themed area of Spanish wines with a sommelier and another area of Spanish cheeses where you can try traditional Iberian products.

 

In addition to the various canapés, there will be a professional ham-cutter who will be carving a traditional JamónIbérico de Bellota (A cured ham from an Iberian pig fed only on acorns to produce a superior quality of meat).

 

The aperitif will have musical accompaniment by a Classical Spanish Guitarist.

 

Canapés
(sample menu only)
Slices of cured  Iberian  pork loin
Croquettes filled with béchamel and Iberian  ham
Croquettes filled with béchamel and vegetables
Spanish Tortilla
Prawn al Romescu
A selection of Iberian products, chorizo, ham etc
Potato Mousse with wild mushrooms
Gazpacho aromatized with Basil
Mushrooms filled with Pisto
Octopus sprinkled with paprika and sea  salt

 

 Drinks
 Jerez - Sherry
Red Wine: Viña Real Plata
White Wine: Raimat Clos Casal
A Selection of Fruit Juices and Soft Drinks
Beer 

 

Dinner

 

After the aperitif you will be escorted to the invernadero (greenhouse), with views over the convent’s interior patios, for dinner.

 

Dinner
(example menu only)
 Chilled gazpacho soup with essence of fresh basil 
Smoked cod and king prawns on a bed of seasonal salad 
Poulard breast filled with foiegras and wild mushrooms
 Dark chocolate dome 
Almond biscuits and whims of the Convent
 Coffee and a selection of liqueurs

 

Wine List
Red: Viña Real Crianza
White: Raimat
Cava: Anna de Codorniu Brut Nature

 

 

Flamenco Show

 

On completion of dinner, coffee and liqueurs will be served, and you will be able to sit back and enjoy a spectacular demonstration of the art of Flamenco, performed by Cuadro Flamenco Sueños. The group will comprise of four artists: guitarist, singer, and a male and female dancer. They will perform a mix of bulerias, sevillanas, alegrias, all accompanied by cante (song) and baile (dance) to give you a taste of Andalusia. For the daring among you, there will also be the chance to participate!

 

End of the night

 

At the end of the evening your group will be accompanied to the waiting buses and travel back to your hotel.(estimated arrival time 0030)