The Grillhouse, You will never forget its meat...

Maybe due to the fact that I haven't really involved myself on our last holidays planning, I left Madrid thinking almost only on wildlife and on the safari experience I was about to live... 

And then, after 18 hours travelling and just a couple of hours in Johannesburg, this mindset completely changed... and I have now to correct the first sentence and add the amazing gastronomic experience we lived...

It may be difficult to explain, but if you are a meat lover like me, in the right moment you arrive the GrillHouse you feel that this is clearly a must go in South Africa and that you are about to experience an "another planet" meal... Just one tip for the next time you go to a Steakhouse: apart from the weight of the knife pick up the knife with one finger just in the middle between the blade and the handle. If it is heavy and it stays equilibrated you are dealing with a very special top quality knife, and it may mean you are about to taste same or better quality food...

In fact I was completely right! From the starters, of which I would highlight the snails to the main courses that, to be honest, were the best ribs and rump steak I've tasted the whole holidays and, no doubt, if not the best one of the best I've ever eaten!

If you sum to this a very correct staff attention a really interesting wine list, and most important a great group of friends, you get an excellent meal like we had.

After the meal I understood why our friend Juan made the dinner reservation in advance, we could not miss it! It is really a pity that it is so far away from Madrid... 

A tip If you live around: visit the amazing shop, just in front of the restaurant and try do this amazing steaks at home!

Where?

The Grillhouse, Corner of Oxford Road and Bierman Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg (+27 11 880 3945; www.thegrillhouse.co.za)

How Much?

Aprox. 25 - 35€

Maye's Bistró, unique burgers in Madrid!

Last week I had a special request at home! We should go to a burger restaurant for dinner, so I started to look for new places to go outside "our 10 minutes public transport area" as August is perfect to use the car in Madrid. Although I thought that in August there would be no need to make reservation, we called to book a table in the terrace. What a wise decision, because when we arrived all the tables were booked, the first positive indicator of the quality of this restaurant...

As we went on a normal weekday dinner we only asked for two burgers: Mark Twain and Orson Wells, both with delicious home-made French fries...

The delicious food, excellent service in a terrace in a wonderfull summer night...could we ask for anything else?

An excellent surprise that entered directly for our top burger restaurants in Madrid...

Where?

Paseo Tierra Melide 13 Madrid, España 

Tube: Las Tablas 10

Tel: +34912 87 62 72

www.mayesbistro.es

Beef Tataki... for meat lovers!

we decided to come back writing today with a recipe of one of my favourite Chefs Jose Avillez, Beef tataki, a recipe specially dedicated to the addicted & lovers of the good meat...

Specially on this dish one of the major secrets of success is the quality of the meat you are able to find... ask the butcher for the best sirloin he can get!

Especially in this dish one of the greatest secrets of success is greater than the quality of the meat, the butcher clean empty piece of meat or sirloin, summarizing an early there ...

Cut the meat in parallelepiped pieces and season with salt. In a frying pan with a splash of extra virgin olive oil slightly fry it leaving it cooked in the outside and completely raw inside

Serve with the following salad:

Start by cutting 2 tomatoes into small cubes, (first cut into quarters to remove the seeds), add some chopped red onion, chopped chive, approximately 60g Roquefort smashed (like I didn't have Roquefort at home I grated some Parmesan cheese that matched perfectly), a grated boiled egg, two avocados cut in cubes, lemon juice, olive oil, pepper and correct the seasoning with a bit of salt. Mix everything well.

Cut of Beef Tataki into slices approximately 1 cm and finish with a bit of salt  on top of the meat and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately with the salad...

Make your own burgers

Sometimes we don't even think that doing it by ourselves may be so easy, quick and much more tasty than buy it already prepared... It's what normally happens with burgers. 

Again, as I always say, don't get stuck in this recipe and try your own recipes by mixing whatever it occurs to you, and share if you want...

You will need:
minced meat (I used about 250 gr per person)
parsley
Dijon mustard
small toast or cracker
salt & black pepper

Put your griddle pan on high heat. Meanwhile, In a bowl, chop the parsley, and mix it with the dijon mustard, black pepper and one little toast smashed. Add the meat and mix it till the sauce is perfectly spread across all the minced meat. Make the burgers with your hands or with the help of a mould, I "stole"a burger mould from my mom's house... And grill it according to your taste...

MEATing, A temple of good meat

MEATing is one of these restaurants which the name tells you perfectly what you can expect from it! It's a perfect place for a meat lovers group to meet...

Despite I went there after reading metropoli guide and 11870.com recommendations, I still went out surprised and thinking about our next visit.

As it was the first time we went there we asked the waiter for some help, and the truth is that It couldn't be a better option. An expert on his restaurant raw material and so nice that also seemed to be part of our group.

We started with an a fresh tuna belly with tomato to share and then the star of the restaurant and if not the best it is surely on the podium of the best meat I've tasted in Madrid.

The room very pleasant, with space enough from the other tables and the perfect extraction avoids you to leave with the unpleasant smell of food...

Definitely a place to return...

Where?

Calle Villalar, 4

Madrid, Spain

phone: +34 914 31 69 97

www.restaurantemeating.com 

How Much?
About 30€
(depending on the wine you order we had two nice bottles of Ramon Bilbao edición limitada...)

For meat lovers...

La Cabaña Argentina is a must go for Argentine cuisine lovers of  in the city of Madrid.

Clearly one of my favorite places to eat meat in Madrid.  Yesterday we returned with a group of friends, as starters we ordered three classics: Chorizo ​​Criollo, empanadas and provolone that were excellent as always, and then the inevitable steak La Cabaña of 500 gr! that simply fell apart when cutting ... 

The only non positive comment, the service could be better ...

Where to find it:

Restaurante la Cabaña Argentina
C/ Ventura de la Vega, 10
Madrid, Spain
+34 913 69 72 02
Metro: Sevilla 2
www.lacabanaargentina.es

How Much?
Average Price  30-35€