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Espectacular Carne, Callos, Y Vino: Taberna El Rincon Madrid

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Espectacular Carne, Callos, Y Vino: Taberna El Rincon Madrid

Taberna El Rincon de Jose is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

Try this place. Hardcore madrileños only. No tourists. I challenge you to find better callos anywhere. The place has been there for like 100 years.

a bar with a sign on the front

That’s the sort of recommendation that made me leave my Chamberí neighborhood and head to Huerta, another barrio of Madrid (see Saturday Night in Huerta). It is the authentic local endorsement for which I have been searching. So, how did it measure up?

Tourists 

The issue when a place has been around for 100 years is the inevitable arrival of tourists. So long as the proprietor maintains the quality and tradition that made it great in the first place, it is not a red flag to see non-locals. When the menu is on a placard with flags from different countries, that is a good warning that it is time to move on.

During my visit, there was a good mix of Spaniards and people from around the world. a group of people in a room with bottles of wine

Vino

In Madrid, it is not worth ordering a bottle (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here). The house wine is good enough.

a bottle of wine next to a glass of wine
I asked for two cups and ended up with a baby bottle.

After finishing the small bottle, I asked for something with more power – ‘mas duro’, to compliment my steak order. C. Valduero 1 Cepa, also served by the glass, was one of the best wines from Ribera del Duero I’ve had (see  Guns & Butter: Ribera Del Duero, Madrid Travel Guide (Vino Edition)).

a bottle of wine on a table
The wine and food menu.

Callos

My friend challenged me to find better callos. The problem is that I had no idea what callos were. A Google translate revealed that it was tripe. TPOL and tripe do not get along. I do not care for it in any form, even in a bowl of pho. This was different. The callos were served in a zesty stew, typical of an Arabic dish. None was left. a bowl of soup on a plate

Pan

A note on bread. In my tapas post, I wrote how generous bars and restaurants are in providing free food. This is not true when it comes to bread. They charged me for it at Ten Con Ten (see Ten Con Ten Madrid vs. City Hall Scottsdale), and they charged for it here. That’s an interesting difference between Spanish and American restaurants.

a bowl of potato chips and olives
Don’t fill up on potato chips and olives.
a bowl of food with crackers
The breadsticks are extra.

Carne Roja a la Parrilla

Take all the Spanish courses you want, but most will not teach you the words on the menu (see TPOL The Polyglot: A Better Way to Learn Multiple Languages). Arrogance in assuming you know what a dish is will also backfire. To make sure that I was receiving cuts of beef, I Googled ‘lomo de ternera’ and checked the restaurant’s English website for the picture.

Being honest and modest in your language aptitude is better than being bold and presumptuous and ending up with fried chicken feet. This time I won and won big. This was the best beef cuts, rivaling City Hall Scottsdale (see Ten Con Ten Madrid vs. City Hall Scottsdale) at a fraction of the price. a sliced steak on a tile surface a piece of meat on a plate

Overall

Go here and hope there is a table. a paper receipt on a plate

TPOL’s Tip: Taberna El Rincon Madrid is located at Calle del Duque de Medinaceli, 12
Madrid 28014

Alaska Business App: BoA Wants What?

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Alaska Business App: BoA Wants What?

There’s KYC and then there’s go to bed with your customer. If you thought that Barclays was over-the-top for its business application (see Barclays AA Business Aviator App: History Repeats Itself), what do you make of these requirements?

  • Proof of business ownership or authorization to borrow on behalf of the business (e.g. corporate resolution, organization’s meeting minutes, articles of incorporation, articles of organization or certificate of incorporation).
  • Verification of the legal structure of the business. Verification may include Articles of Inc/Articles of Org/Cert of Trade Name/Partnership agreement. For Non-Profit, provide primary mission (U.S or International) & legal classification (e.g. 501(c)(3)).
  • Your two most recent years of federal personal tax returns with all schedules. If you filed a tax extension, please provide a copy of your most recent W2 forms or, for sole proprietorships, an internally prepared year-end profit and loss statement.
Would Donald send all this in just to get 70k points?
a white background with black text
‘Some additional information’?

Mazál Bagels: NY in Madrid, Why Not in Puerto Rico?

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Mazál Bagels: NY in Madrid, Why Not in Puerto Rico?

Mazal Bagels is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

A residency trip requires two components: 1. Cultural immersion in a new city. 2. The comforts of home. In my Madrid residency, I have tried to balance both (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here & Junk Burger Madrid: Way Better Than Shake Shack). The reason I have gone to fewer Spanish restaurants and more diverse places (see A Taste of China, Hong Kong, and Japan…in Madrid) is because the aforementioned ‘comforts of home’ are not available in my home, Puerto Rico.

When I see a place that sells NY bagels and mimosas, I have to stop in. I ordered an everything bagel with turkey and a jug of OJ & bubbles. With each bite, I wondered why I had to take a plane to find an American bagel instead of driving down the street. Even the eggs were fluffier than the imports to Costco.

a sign on a building a plate of food and a glass of liquid two glasses of yellow liquid a bagel sandwich and chips on a plate

Overall

I can go on about the quality of Mazál Bagels but I will not because I don’t want to be upset when I return to Puerto Rico and read about how the most basic of foods is not available.

 

 

Most Wanted: GUILTY Cookie Shop Madrid

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Most Wanted: GUILTY Cookie Shop Madrid

Guilty Cookies is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

There was a cupcake store in Scottsdale whose line would be out the door. I never understood why. Unless it’s Top of the Muffin to You!, how is there a demand for sweet treats? In Madrid, there is a cookie shop called GUILTY near my flat. The sign in the window says, “America’s Most Wanted Cookies.” I couldn’t get the marketing out of my head. Do people in America really want the cookie and go out of their way to buy them? Or have Americans only heard of the GUILTY cookie but, given the location of the shop, could only long for such a cookie?

While I still cannot answer those questions, I can say that the $14 price point for 4 cookies left me with no regrets.

a sign on a window a box of cookies

a logo on a black surface
Perhaps they should change the name of the shop.

TPOL’s Tip: GUILTY is located at Calle de Fernández de la Hoz, 48, 28010 Madrid, Spain.

Alaska Business App: Unfortunately, We’re Unable to Approve You

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Alaska Business App: Unfortunately, We’re Unable to Approve You

I wrote about how I was approved for the Alaska personal (see Approved! Alaska Personal). In that post, I referenced that I continue to be rejected for the business card. A reader suggested that I open a bank account with BoA. I intended to heed the advice before applying for the business card again.

With a 70k business offer, I impulsively did heed that advice, thinking that maybe I would be approved instantly. I was not.

a red and white card with black text

It’s time to call recon and figure out what is going on. As a profitable business owner, I find it harder to be approved now than when I was starting out. Amex is no issue but BOA, Barclays, and Chase aren’t as generous as they used to be (see Barclays AA Business Aviator App: History Repeats Itself & Recon Call After Recon Call, Finally Chase Ink Cash Approved).

Citi’s Pointless 2k Limit Thank You, No Thank You Card

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Citi’s Pointless 2k Limit Thank You, No Thank You Card

You will receive 80k points after you spend 4k in 3 months. That’s not so hard to do compared to 15k in 3 months for Amex offers (see Oops!… I Did It Again: Min Spending Hell). The problem is trying to do so when my limit is only $2,000 and I had already spent $2003.13.

After destroying the minimum spend for the Alaska card (see Approved! Alaska Personal) in Madrid, I could not use my new Chase Ink Cash (see Recon Call After Recon Call, Finally Chase Ink Cash Approved) because 1) there are foreign transaction fees 2) I haven’t received it. This left me in the terrible situation where I would have to keep spending on a card whose min has been met while the card that needed love and had better bonus categories would go unused.

To remedy the situation, I tried to increase the credit limit online. I was denied. I tried to call to increase the credit limit. Again, I was denied. I tried to shift part of the $30,500 limit from my Citi Rewards+ card. Denied.

I tried something more novel. I paid the entire balance. That was on February 25th. The card showed a zero balance on February 26th. By Monday, February 27th, I tried to buy an espresso. It was denied. I called Citi. They said because it was a new account, the balance would not be reset until March 8th. Indignant, I hung up. I tried rationalizing using my Alaska card or my Ink Preferred. I could not. I called Citi again and demanded to speak to a manager. The agent said the manager wouldn’t be able to do anything. I said put him on the phone anyway. She did.

The manager said we could have a three-way call with my bank. If my bank verifies that the funds have been sent, my card would be available for immediate use. After a moderate hold, the banker came on the line and verified that I had paid my bill. The manager removed the block and I, once again, had the mighty purchasing power of $2,000.

Unfortunately for me, the casita in Rio Mar is in perpetual remodel like El Sagrada Familia, an appropriate reference to the country of my current residence. With a Costco President’s Day Sale, I maxed out the card on a new microwave and dishwasher.

Citi min spend is complete but what card am I supposed to use now? Maybe I’ll apply for another Business Amex Platinum and see if they’ll ship it here.

Conclusion: Citi is stupid.

a screenshot of a credit card

¿Qué pasa, güey? Mexican Tacos in Madrid

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¿Qué pasa, güey? Mexican Tacos in Madrid

Mexican Tacos madrid is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

I’ve been in Madrid for almost a month. I have barely gone more than 2km from my piso, if you don’t include running (see Olé! Where to Workout in Madrid). My plan to do nothing is going according to plan. Speaking of working out, it’s a good thing that I have done so just about every day here. There is no shortage of great restaurants from upscale (see Ten Con Ten Madrid vs. City Hall Scottsdale) to traditional tapas (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here). The latest was Tiki Taco. a building with a sign on it

For one to 1.8 euros max, I was able to enjoy a taste of my first residency, Monterrey, Mexico.

a table with food and drinks
Tacos Felix Monterrey
a group of tacos on a black plate
Tiki Taco Madrid

For a few euros more, I was almost able to taste the sweet joy of a Sol with saltwater and lime Michelada from my days in Acapulco.

a glass of beer next to a bottle
Alas, all they had in Madrid was the original Sol.

And because money is no object when it comes to delicious tacos, I was able to experience Guadalajara as well (see Tacos & Tequila: An Afternoon in Tlaquepaque).

a plate of tacos on a wood table

Spending $40 on tacos in one night is justifiable. However, to eat the same amount of tacos every night at this price is impossible. Fortunately, Mexico City is included on my residency tour (see Second Residency: The Definitive List).

So long as I avoid the tourist trap of tacos with a view (see Don’t Pay $30 for Tacos), I will come out way ahead.

TPOL’s Tip: Tiki Taco is located at C. de Guzmán el Bueno, 69, 28015 Madrid

Simply The Best: February 2023

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Simply The Best: February 2023

Do you know what was the best idea? Moving to Madrid for my second residency in February 2023. Here’s why:

    1. TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

      a two black rectangular computers with red and yellow text
      So why did I decide to leave La Isla Encanta for two months? The answer is simple. I needed a break from the exhaustion of retirement.
    2. Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here

      a plate of food with sauce on it
      I am not in the USA for the next six weeks. This allows me the opportunity to share with you the best places for tapas in Madrid.
    3. Mo de Movimiento Madrid: Oh de Organic Pizza

      a pizza with green sauce and cheese
      I would go back but not because of organic marketing. I would go back because that’s a damn good pizza.
    4. A Taste of China, Hong Kong, and Japan…in Madrid

      a restaurant with signs and pictures
      From the outside, I thought I was going to a Japanese restaurant. From the mural on the wall, I thought I was in Hong Kong. From Tsingtao beer, I thought I was in Shanghai. It only occurred to me that I was in Europe when I received the bill for $50.
    5. Ten Con Ten Madrid vs. City Hall Scottsdale

      a collage of food and wine
      I never wrote a restaurant review of City Hall despite living in Scottsdale for years. After visiting Ten Con Ten in Madrid, I am compelled to compare and praise both of them.
    6. Iberia Business SJU-MAD: And Another One

      a group of screens on a plane
      I’ve flown Iberia to Madrid in business many times. This time was different. This time I was relocating to Madrid for the inauguration of my bi-annual residency in a foreign country.
    7. TPOL’s Tip: Arrive Early to Avoid Sushi Terrorists
      a long line of plates and cups on a conveyor belt
      Continuing my tour of Almagro, my neighborhood in Madrid, I went to Kintaro to catch the sushi express. Destination: fat and full.

      Bonus post because they can’t all be about Madrid: Iraq Visa on Arrival: Take a Seat, Hand Over Some Cash, Then Exit

      a group of people sitting in chairs and a blue suitcase
      Visas are usually a problem for me. I am bad about sending the app ahead of time. I gloss over the rules, or I sloppily fill out the forms. Judging by the informal approach at Baghdad customs, I have concluded that, culturally, I am predisposed to such disorganization.

Tap to Pay Abroad: Beware of DCC

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Tap to Pay Abroad: Beware of DCC

DCC is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

I once wrote an article about Hertz’s Dynamic Currency Conversion tactic (see Dynamic Currency Conversion – A Euphemism for Highway Robbery). The takeaway from that article is to always select the local currency when using your credit card and let your bank convert the foreign currency into dollars. This is preferable to allowing the foreign bank to set the exchange rate.

The problem I have encountered with DCC in Madrid is when I use Tap to Pay. Here’s what happens: The waiter says the bar tab is 23.5 euros. He brings over the credit card machine. I see 23.5 euros on the screen. I tap my card or my phone. The next step in the transaction is to select euros or dollars. Typically, the waiter hits enter which, by default, selects euros. Sometimes, the waiter takes it upon himself to choose dollars, resulting in the dynamic currency conversion.

I’m sure that the waiter isn’t doing this to scam me. I assume he thinks he is doing it for my own convenience. Without the machine in my hand, I have no way of ensuring that this does not happen. Because the transaction is so quick, I forget to remind the merchant to select euros. When I do remember, I sometimes take it upon myself to select euros myself. This overreach isn’t appreciated by the merchant.

I don’t have a solution for preventing dynamic currency conversion besides being hyper vigilant. That’s easier said than done when you’re at the fifth tapas bar of the evening (see Best Tapas Madrid: No Budget Cuts Here).

a screenshot of a phone
What would it have been if I was charged in euros by BOA?

A Taste of China, Hong Kong, and Japan…in Madrid

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A Taste of China, Hong Kong, and Japan…in Madrid

Torijiro is part of The Adios Puerto Rico, Hola España Trip Report. Read TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency?

When I wrote TPOL Now Living in Madrid!, I did not think that my real-time Madrid posts would be so Food & Drink focused. But besides sex and drugs and house, what else is there in life? #devil #acapulco #palladium

Today’s installment of TPOL’s Tastes comes from a fun restaurant called Torijrio, located in my Chamberí neighborhood, an area that I see no reason to leave. From the outside, I thought I was going to a Japanese restaurant. From the mural on the wall, I thought I was in Hong Kong. From Tsingtao beer, I thought I was in Shanghai. It only occurred to me that I was in Europe when I received the bill for $50.

a sign on a building
Japanese?
a restaurant with signs and pictures
Japanese sign, Chinese sign, and Hong Kong mural
a group of dim sum baskets on a table
Hong Kong Dim Sum and Shanghai dumplings
a bowl of soup with meat and vegetables
Japanese ramen
a bowl of rice with a wooden spoon
Whatever it’s called, it’s Japanese and it’s delicious

As far as the food goes, I would skip the dim sum. It was not fresh. The xiao long bao, though not the quality of Yang’s or Yu Garden (see Yang’s Dumpling Shanghai: Still #1 & Yu Garden Shanghai: Only Go for the Dumplings), was still a celebration in my mouth (see Xiao Long Bao: A Tutorial). The best dish was the Japanese spicy rice.

In terms of language, it was fun trying to decipher the Spanish words for Asian foods. It was also fun to speak a combination of Mandarin and Spanish to the Chinese-Spanish workers. Ultimately, pointing at pictures on the menu worked best.

a neon sign in a window
Translation in English: sex and drugs and house
a red circle with blue writing on a grey surface
Translation in Spanish: delicioso

TPOL’s Tip: Torijiro is located at Calle de Fernández de la Hoz, 70, 28003 Madrid

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