On our second day in Madrid, we had the fantastic opportunity to take a deep dive into the culture through a cooking class. When I first woke I was not feeling well due to the jet lag and late nights, but I found a rhythm after breakfast. I was surprised by the breakfast selection in hotel Regina. It does not seem to be the practice everywhere throughout the city, but they served empanadas, chicken nuggets, ham and cheese sandwiches, and a lot of pastries. Of course, a classic Spanish Tortilla was served, which I tried. I did not like it and was surprised that the dish was so popular because I found it very bland, but once we got to our cooking class I got to find out how it was really supposed to be made.

After a brief discussion about the metro systems, we were led to the station. Its routes are confusing at first glance but become clear as you use them. Because the subway has been being made for so long with different goals for different tracks, it has become messy. It was an enjoyable ride, and I was surprised by the amount of art displayed on the subway walls. In fact, throughout Madrid, there is such a significant number of sculptures, murals, and graffiti artworks that you will see something new on every street you walk down. As an artist myself, I was delighted by their appreciation for not only decorative art, but also important commemorative art. Once we were off the train it only took a few minutes to get to our destination. Coming from New England I was not prepared for the heat. Just that short walk from the station to the cooking class took a lot of my energy.

Inside the kitchen named Apetit’Oh, We got some water, washed our hands, and started right away. First, our teacher explained to us what we were going to make. Our class was split into three groups, and together we had 3 Spanish dishes. We made tortillas (my group), seafood and chicken paella, and gazpacho. Each of these dishes was amazing and simple to make. Our teacher prepared the more difficult seafood ingredients, but due to an allergy to calamari, I was unable to eat it. It smelled delicious, and the whole team did a wonderful job of cutting everything up, spicing it, and bringing in good flavor. Though not completely traditional I was excited to have a taste of the Chicken paella and really enjoyed the experience. It was definitely not like anything I had eaten before.

While team one was making paella, I got the privilege to help make the tortilla and the Gazpacho. The process was quick. For the Gazpacho all we needed to do was cut up onions, peppers, lots of tomatoes, garlic, and a good amount of salt. We blended everything up and put it in the fridge to get cold. With the Gazpacho set aside we started on the tortilla. All it took was to cook potatoes in oil, whisk up some eggs, and add the ingredients together with a generous handful of salt. I got to attempt to flip the egg tortilla in the traditional way using a plate and large frying pan. I must admit My flip was not amazing, but it still tasted phenomenal.

Finally, we were able to eat everything we had made. The Gazpacho was what most surprised me. I do not like tomatoes at all and yet this tomato drink was amazing. I came back for seconds. It tasted like drinking a garden. The paella is quite a salty flavorful dish and I enjoyed the chicken, however, I was disappointed I had to miss out on the seafood. Lastly, the tortilla was delicious! Unlike the one I had tried at the hotel, it was flavorful, salty, and had a great texture. Though eggs have never been my go-to, I might consider making them this way at home.

After the class, we cleaned up and headed back to hotel Regina. I was feeling quite sick by this point. Do not worry. I do not have Covid. I explored a museum right outside our hotel called the academy of art, and I was impressed by the Goya collection. Unfortunately, my energy quickly petered out, and I spent the afternoon in my room trying to get better. While I was feeling under the weather I got to reflect a lot on what I had seen so far. There is beautiful castle architecture everywhere, there is art on nearly every wall and the people are kind and welcoming. I love this city. Despite the aggressive heat and the sickness I am feeling, I am happy to be here with my classmates during this once-in-a-lifetime experience.