Dinner at Taberna Pedraza, a Michelin Guide Restaurant

What a delicious and elegant dinner we had at Taberna Pedraza, a Michelin Guide restaurant in the center of Madrid near the National Library.

My sister’s best friend since elementary days in Binangonan, Reggie, hosted our dinner. She’s been living in Madrid for over 40 years and that has made Reggie more of a Spanish girl than a Filipina. She is the perfect person to pick the best Madrid restaurant and order the best Andalucian food.

March 27 was our dinner date. This had been set two months prior, as soon as Reggie found out that we were visiting Madrid.

Len and Bong arrived this morning from San Francisco. Since the flights from San Francisco to Madrid was a lot shorter than coming from Manila, mas meron silang energy to walk from Only You Hotel to Terrazas Pedraza. Kami ni Edmund, nagtaxi kami. Reggie was able to convince Bong and Len na malapit lang daw ang 1.9 kilometers. Malapit yan kung hindi masakit ang tuhod at likod, at kung walang jetlag.

Edmund and I arrived at the restaurant at 7:45 pm, sarado pa. Yung pala they open at exactly 8 pm. Late talaga maghapunan dito sa Spain.

Although the restaurant is multi-awarded, it was not too formal. They even have an area while waiting to be seated.

And even if our three other companions have not yet arrived, they let me and Mon, seat at the reserved table.

A—– “Cinco personas” I told the female receptionist.

My husband teased me after he heard me say “cinco personas”. He wasn’t sure about my Spanish. Akala nya mali.
Eh ako nosotros no hablamos espanol, pero maraming words that as a Filipina who had two years of Spanish at the Universidad de Santo Tomas, there were two dozen more words and phrases that are still stored in my memory. Lumalabas ang Spanish words ko for survival. At saka di ba ang Tagalog words natin eh napakaraming Spanish words? Three hundred thirty three years of Spanish colonialization, that was what we inherited. Words and dishes. Hindi natin namana ang tangkad nila at tangos ng ilong. At kulay!!!

Dyos ko, ang laki nung isda,  paano kaya namin ito uubusin?

Virgin Mojito

Every dish Reggie ordered was great.  The night was made even better by all her animated stories.

Muchos gracias Senyora Regina
Esperamos poder corresponder a su amabilidad cuando visite Manila.
(We hope to return your kindness when you visit Manila.)

Taberna Pedraza
C. de Recoletos, 4,
28001 Madrid
Phone: 91 342 82 40