In San Isidro, people do eat rosquillas de santo, but this year the cocido has also made its way into the festivities as another event. The official festival program includes a free tasting of the traditional Madrid-style cocido, organized by the City Council as a culinary tribute to the patron saint.
The tasting will take place on May 15, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Plaza Fuente del Trébol, an open space where it is easy to set up long tables, organized lines, and the entire ritual of an “open-air community stew.” Admission is free and no prior registration is required, although the organizers usually recommend arriving early to ensure you get a serving.
What the cocido tasting is like
What is offered is a traditional Madrid-style cocido, prepared in large pots and served in individual portions, designed to be eaten standing up or at long tables, as in classic street festivals. Depending on the logistics, it may be served in a single dish ( mixing broth, chickpeas, vegetables, and meats) or simplified to speed up distribution.
Over the years, Madrid-style cocido has become one of the great emblems of the capital’s cuisine: chickpeas (often from Fuentesaúco), vegetables, beef shank, chorizo, bacon, chicken, ham ends, and the occasional family secret. It is traditionally served in three courses (broth with noodles, chickpeas and vegetables, and finally the meats).
San Isidro is the perfect setting for this culinary nod: while people dance the chotis and drink lemonade in the Pradera, other parts of the city celebrate Madrid’s culinary heritage with stews, rosquillas, and gallinejas.