Tapa Thursdays: The Corte Inglés Gourmet Experience

One of my favorite things about eating out in Spain is sharing dishes with friends. One of my least favorite is having to decide on what to eat when everyone has different gustos.

The Corte Inglés Gourmet Experience in the flagship store in Plaza del Duque recently opened its Gourmet Experience on the top floor, selling overpriced peanut butter next to an oyster bar. The appeal was being able to sample different cuisines at the same time while not having to walk all over town. For a Saturday night, I expected loads of diners, but the long weekend meant room to walk and eat and breathe without Semana-Santaesque crowds.

The Gourmet Experience has several different chains, all respected in Seville – 100Montaditos Gallery, with upscale sandwiches between 1,50 and 3,50; Barajas20, a gastro tapas bars; La Calata by Amor a la Mexicana, featuring Mexican favorites in ración form; Hamburguesa Nostra, where gourmet mini hamburgers take center stage; heralded bakery (H)arina; Egaña pintxos and Amorino gelato.

We settled on Mexican and shared a plate of nachos with several spicy dipping sauces. I like Amor a la Mexicana, but was disappointed with the excess of cheese. The price was steep, but desperate times call for desperation when it comes to shelling out euros.

Had we not wanted to share, the space has plenty of communal seating, similar to Mercado San Miguel, so you don’t all have to commit to the beauty of sharing dishes and tastes amongst friends. Like Food Life, the choice is up to you.

The terrace is worth sitting at, though, with views across the square to both the Setas and the Giralda. You can also get drinks. I’m interested in trying to hamburgers and gussied up montaditos and perhaps even leaving room for dessert.

If you go: The Gourmet Experience is located on the top floor of the mega department store in Plaza del Duque, accessed by its own set of elevators after normal store closing hours. 

Would you ever go to a place like The Gourmet Experience? Madrid’s Callao, Gran Vía, Goya and Castellana Cortes have them, too, as well as Alicante!

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About Cat Gaa

As a beef-loving Chicago girl living amongst pigs, bullfighters, and a whole lotta canis, Cat Gaa writes about expat life in Seville, Spain. When not cavorting with adorable Spanish grandpas or struggling with Spanish prepositions, she works in higher education at an American university in Madrid and freelances with other publications, like Rough Guides and The Spain Scoop.

Comments

  1. Definitely, I’d try this. Seems kind of like a fancy food court. In a good way though! Wonder if they have any samples of chicken in little paper cups like they always do at the local mall … :)
    Kaley recently posted..Is Learning a Foreign Language Really Worth It?My Profile

  2. Reminds me of the fancy food court idea like Kaley said…something like at the Water Tower in Chicago or whatever the one is called in Amsterdam.

    But…it looks like it’s worth it just for the view. We’ll head over there when we get back and we may just drag you along. Ha.
    Ryan from Jets Like Taxis recently posted..Expat Tips: Humility and Grace in a New LandMy Profile

  3. This place is great! There are fancy spots, for sure, but the pintxo bars, Amorino ice cream, or Pizza al Cuadrado–an awesome, Belgian-run place with pizza by the slice–make this an option for even budget travelers. And of course the view is terrific! It’s fun to simply get a drink and enjoy peering out over Gran Via :)
    Cassandra recently posted..Parque El Capricho, Madrid’s Most Photogenic ParkMy Profile

  4. This sounds great! It took me a long time to realise that Europe just doesn’t really do food courts. I don’t know why, but it’s just never caught on. My boyfriend got so excited when we went to one back home, he’d never seen one before!
    Caitlyn recently posted..A raft, some white water and a scaredy-catMy Profile

  5. I love Spanish food, tapas in particular. Sharing with friends is the best way to do it in my opinion. Making a note of this place for my travels to Spain. Yum!
    Jen recently posted..Fun Fact Friday #7My Profile

    • I love sharing dishes with friends and just splitting the bill in the end – much less hassle, and that way, you can try more food!

  6. I just went to Madrid’s Corte Inglés Gourmet Experience for the first time a few weeks ago, but just for the views! Your post has inspired me to go again for all of the different food options. Although I must say, the views from Seville’s Gourmet Experience look quite a bit more stunning than from Madrid’s. The Giralda Tower gets me every time :)

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