Starting today and continuing through to 9 February, you can enjoy activities at over 400 establishments and cultural spaces around Madrid

The 5th Gastrofestival Madrid has started

Madrid Destino

A new edition of the Spanish capital's gastronomic event par excellence is upon us. Starting today and continuing through to 9 February, Gastrofestival Madrid is offering visitors and locals alike over 300 activities for exploring the world of fine cuisine and its relationship with other artistic disciplines such as painting, cinema, literature, fashion and design.

This mouth-watering event is organised by Madrid City Council, through the municipal company Madrid Destino, and Madrid Fusión, with the participation of more than 400 local establishments and institutions and encompassing five enticing options: ?Gourmet Madrid?, ?Gastroculture?, ?Sensory Experiences?, ?Gastrofashion? and ?Gastrohealth?.

The first course, ?Gourmet Madrid?, runs from 29 to 31 January and includes ?Dinner with the stars by American Express?, a unique chance to sample the creations of seven top international chefs who have been invited to show off their culinary skills at six Madrid restaurants (Villamagna Rodrigo de la Calle, Goya, Dassa Bassa, Europa Decó, El Jardín del Orfila and Al trapo).

You will also have the chance once again to treat yourself to gourmet menus at affordable prices (?25 and ?40) at some of Madrid's finest restaurants, such as La Bola, Los Galayos, Vi Cool by Sergi Arola, Real Café at the Bernabéu Stadium, Restaurante Larumbe or El Corral de la Morería, which will include a fantastic flamenco show; the classic ?Degustatapas? tasting route (tapa and a beer for ?3); ?Rioja wine in Our Favourite Bars? (tapa and Rioja wine for ?6), not forgetting the city's superb cake shops, cocktail bars, kitchenware shops and cookery schools.

Museums and cultural spaces throughout the city will be paying their own special tribute to the world of gastronomy at ?Gastroculture?, which offers activities for immersing yourself in the culinary arts from a highly original perspective. The Prado Museum is organising the ?Cakes and Wine? themed exhibition (24, 25, 26 and 31 January, and 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 February at 11.30 am and 5 pm), the Thyssen Museum is holding the ?Gastronomy in the Thyssen? guided tours (25 January and 1 February at noon and 12.30 pm) and the Cerralbo Museum is treating us to a culinary workshop called ?19th Century Morsels? (25 January and 8 February at 10.30 am).

The Lázaro Galdiano Foundation, the Garment Museum, the Museum of Anthropology, the Sorolla Museum, the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Museum of Romanticism are also arranging some outstanding events.

Literature in gastronomy will also be present through new attractions such as ?Literary Bites? (30 January and 6 February), literary gatherings focused on gastronomy, which will have the San Ginés chocolate house as its backdrop, or ?Gastrobook Crossing?, where cookery books can be exchanged for free at the Círculo de Bellas Artes.

For the icing on the cake, we have ?Sensory Experiences?, offering tastings, trails and workshops; ?Gastrofashion?, enticing us with gastronomic delights at boutiques of designers Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, Adolfo Domínguez, Alma Aguilar and Roberto Verino and ?Menus by Elle?, a selection of menus for ?35 at some of Madrid's trendiest restaurants; and, last but not least, ?Gastrohealth?, with healthy dishes, eco menus and shops, and health treatments.

Gastrofestival Madrid is an event sponsored by Mahou and American Express. The full programme of activities is available on the city of Madrid's tourist information website: www.esmadrid.com/gastrofestival