Dine in style at the Goya Restaurant & Terrace, Hotel Ritz, Madrid

Madrid is awash with stylish restaurants serving up great food. The Spanish capital is renowned for its cuisine. But for a gastronomic experience to savour forever, you would find it difficult to beat the Goya Restaurant at the Hotel Ritz, Madrid.

This legendary hotel, built at the request of King Alfonso XIII, has been attracting celebrities and world leaders for over 100 years. 

The Goya Restaurant & Terrace

The Goya Restaurant, decked out elegantly with lush red carpets, a marble fireplace and crystal chandeliers may be grand, but the atmosphere is most convivial. 

I was recently there on a warm, late summer’s evening and was able to enjoy a superb meal on the terrace overlooking the hotel’s leafy garden. It was such a beautiful and tranquil setting that it was hard to believe that I was bang in the heart of the city.

Hake with green pepper nectar

Jorge González, executive chef of the Ritz, Madrid since 2004, and his team serve up top-notch cuisine. Using only the finest seasonal ingredients, meticulously prepared, he dishes up fresh interpretations of classic Spanish dishes as well as recipes  influenced by French and Basque cuisine to which he has added his own contemporary twist

The wine list is impressive and features several that are sourced locally. Ask the sommelier for guidance as she is extremely knowledgeable. As you would expect the service here is impeccable. 

 

Steak tartar

For an apéritif, I had a glass of Pedro Ximénez sherry which was recommended by the sommelier. Crammed to the brim with flavours of raisins, dates and figs and a smattering of nuts, this rich fortified wine was velvety smooth on the palate. For nibbles there was delicious ham, and olives that tasted as if they had just been picked.

To start I went for one of the specialities, the tuna tartar coupled with scallops. The dish, beautifully presented, was superb. For main, I plumped for another highlight of the menu, the hake with a green pepper nectar. A glass of a Fuente Elvira, from D.O. Rueda was the ideal accompaniment.  This citrus- fruit -soaked white wine is refreshing and easy to drink.

My companion opted for the steak tartar which looked wonderful. She chose a glass of Retamas from Bodega Regajal, This blend of tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah went down a treat.

If you do find that you have room for a dessert, there is plenty to set your taste buds alight.

Dining at the Goya Restaurant is always a special occasion. 

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

British Airways Holidays offers two nights at the 5* Hotel Ritz, Madrid from £269 per person, until January 31. Price Includes Euro Traveller return flights from London Gatwick or London Heathrow and accommodation on a room only basis. For reservations visit ba.com/madrid or call 0844 493 0758

For further information about the Hotel Ritz, Madrid visit hmandarinoriental.com/ritzmadrid

Choosing the right hairbrush

Walk into any department store or chemist and there is an array of hairbrushes to choose from. The trick is to get the right one for your hair type and not to use it too often. Brushing can harm the hair. 

I asked GB Kent & Sons (kentbrushes.com) more commonly known as Kent Brushes, which has been making brushes since the eighteenth century for some guidance. Kent Brushes received its first warrant from George III and has held a warrant consistently for nine reigns which has to be a testament to the quality of its wares.

Fine hair

According to Kent Brushes, people with this type of hair often find that it is limp or lacks body. Some find that their hair won’t hold a style, especially if there is humidity. However, Kent Brushes says fine hair can be shiny and smooth.

For general brushing, Kent Brushes recommends using a soft to medium strength bristle brush. A rubber cushion adds comfort. Before buying a brush, you want to ensure that it won’t scratch your hair so rub your hands over the bristles to see how it feels.

If like me, you have fine hair but a lot of it, you might like the Kent Brushes Grooming Brush (£8.50) which is suitable for styling and smoothing shorter hair. For blow-drying, I like a round brush as it helps to get hair smooth and sleek. I tried the Kent Brushes 45mm Diameter Radial Brush (£9.50) which is ideal for shaping, straightening and curling.

Hairdressers tend to recommend boar bristles as they help to boost shine. It can be hard to find a good round natural bristle brush so ask your hairdresser for suggestions if you cannot find what you are looking for in a regular store.

Medium Hair

This is the type of hair that most of us would like to have as it is shiny, does not tend to dry out and is easy to look after.

“Although most hair brushes can be used it is still a good idea to treat yourself to a medium to stiff bristle brush to use for traditional brushing as part of a daily care regime,” says Kent Brushes.

Thick Hair

“Blow-drying can also take twice as long with this type of hair so it is worth drying 80 per cent of the moisture out it before starting to use your hair brush to style,” advises Kent Brushes.

“For daily brushing use a very stiff bristle brush or one with added nylon quills. These protrude longer than the bristle to help the brush to penetrate through your hair deep down to the scalp.”

Shape and size

The shape you choose will also depend on what style you want to create. You should also take into consideration the length of hair. In general, the smaller brushes work best on shorter hair. The larger ones work best on longer hair. However, you may find smaller ones work on longer hair to produce curls.

If you want to add volume you will want a round natural bristle brush which will also help create lift and shape. This brush is particularly good for people with fine hair.

The more tightly packed the bristles, the better for taming hair. It is often down to personal preference whether you want to use natural bristle or plastic pins. Although, if you have fine hair plastic pins can create static. 

Ceramic round stylers may dry the hair quicker (the brush retains the heat from your hairdryer than a bristle brush, but  are potentially more damaging to your hair. They can work for when you want to create waves and curls. Kent advises working with hair that is slightly damp when using this type of brush. 

Flat brushes are good for detangling and also for smoothing. Vent brushes are suitable for drying short to medium hair that does not have much curl. Paddle brushes are great if you want to dry long, thick hair straight. As they have plastic bristles you are not able to create as much tension as you would with a round bristle brush so they are not good for taming frizz. 

Ask your hairdresser if they think this type of brush is suitable for you. If your hair is fine or fragile, they are probably best avoided or at least to be used occasionally. Of course, Kent does one (Kent Brushes Ceramic Radial Brush (PF12, £11.50) but there are other brands such as Denman that you can look at. 

Finally, don’t forget to wash brushes regularly.
 

By Daralyn Danns