The Eating Of The Bulls: From The Spanish Fighting Ring To The Plate
From the moment you step into the restaurant Casa Toribio in Madrid, you will see that it's, well, full of bull. Along with statues dedicated to the animal, several photographs and paintings of matadors — waving red capes in their gallant outfits — adorn the walls, honoring a much-debated bloody Spanish tradition that dates back to A.D. 711 with the coronation of King Alfonso VIII.
It's not uncommon for Spanish restaurants, especially those catering to international tourists, to advertise bullfighting, sangria and flamenco. (Note: Not all of Spain has bullfighting, sangria and flamenco.) And Casa Toribio is in a prime location — just down the street from Madrid's famous bullring, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas.
But for Casa Toribio, the attention given to bullfighting goes much further, or meat from a bull killed in a bullfight.
