The world's oldest restaurant faces a challenge from another Madrid tavern that says its even older
MADRID — In the heart of Spain's capital, Sobrino de Botín holds a coveted Guinness World Record as the world's oldest restaurant. Exactly three hundred years after it opened its doors, Botín welcomes droves of daily visitors hungry for Castilian fare with a side of history.
But on the outskirts of Madrid, far from the souvenir shops and tourist sites, a rustic tavern named Casa Pedro makes a bold claim. Its owners assert the establishment endured not just the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s and the Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s, but even the War of Spanish Succession at the start of the 18th century — a lineage that would make Casa Pedro older than Botín and a strong contender for the title.
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Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
The world's oldest restaurant faces a challenge from another Madrid tavern that says it's even older
MADRID (AP) — In the heart of Spain's capital, Sobrino de Botín holds a coveted Guinness World Record as the world's oldest restaurant. Exactly three hundred years after it opened its doors, Botín welcomes droves of daily visitors hungry for Castilian fare with a side of history. But on the outskirts of Madrid, far from the souvenir shops and tourist sites, a rustic tavern named Casa Pedro makes a bold claim. Its owners assert the establishment endured not just the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s and the Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s, but even the War of Spanish Succession at the start of the 18th century — a lineage that would make Casa Pedro older than Botín and a strong contender for the title. 'It's really frustrating when you say, 'Yes, we've been around since 1702,' but ... you can't prove it,' said manager and eighth-generation proprietor Irene Guiñales. 'If you look at the restaurant's logo, it says 'Casa Pedro, since 1702,' so we said, 'Damn it, let's try to prove it.'' Guiñales, 51, remembers her grandfather swearing by Casa Pedro's age, but she was aware that decades-old hearsay from a proud old-timer wouldn't be enough to prove it. Her family hired a historian and has so far turned up documents dating the restaurant's operations to at least 1750. That puts them within striking distance of Botín's record. Clients and rivals Both taverns are family-owned. Both offer Castilian classics like stewed tripe and roast suckling pig. They are decorated with charming Spanish tiles, feature ceilings with exposed wooden beams and underground wine cellars. And both enjoy a rich, star-studded history. Botín's celebrated past includes a roster of literary patrons like Truman Capote, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Graham Greene. In his book 'The Sun Also Rises,' Ernest Hemingway described it as 'one of the best restaurants in the world.' While Casa Pedro may not have boasted the same artistic pedigree, it boasts its own VIPs. Its walls are adorned with decades-old photographs of former Spanish King Juan Carlos I dining in one of its many rooms. The current Spanish monarch, King Felipe VI dines there, too, albeit more inconspicuously than his father. But the similarities between the two hotspots end there. Casa Pedro was once a stop on the only road heading north from the Spanish capital toward France. Its clientele is largely local regulars, like David González and Mayte Villena, who for years have spent every Friday lunching at the tavern. 'It wouldn't change a thing for us,' Villena said about the restaurant someday securing the Guinness title. Botín, on the other hand, is a stone's throw from Madrid's famed Plaza Mayor, where any day of the week tour guides are herding groups around town — and often straight through the restaurant's front door. Antonio González, a third-generation proprietor of Botín, concedes that the Guinness accolade awarded in 1987 has helped business, but said the restaurant had enough history to draw visitors even before. 'It has a certain magic,' he said. Pretenders to the crown The question then becomes: How can either restaurant definitively claim the title? Guinness provides its specific guidelines for the superlative only to applicants, according to spokesperson Kylie Galloway, noting that it entails 'substantial evidence and documentation of the restaurant's operation over the years.' González said that Guinness required Botín show that it has continuously operated in the same location with the same name. The only time the restaurant closed was during the COVID-19 pandemic, as did Casa Pedro. That criteria would mean that restaurants that are even older — Paris' Le Procope, which says it was founded in 1686, or Beijing's Bianyifang, founded in 1416, or the 1673-established White Horse Tavern in Newport, Rhode Island — aren't eligible for the designation. La Campana, in Rome's historic center, claims over 500 years of operation, citing documents on its menu and in a self-published history. Its owners say they have compiled the requisite paperwork and plan to submit it to Guinness. A dream for Casa Pedro Guiñales and her husband couldn't consult archives from the former town of Fuencarral, now a Madrid neighborhood. Those papers went up in flames during the Spanish Civil War. Instead, they delved into Spanish national archives, where they found land registries of the area from the First Marquess of Ensenada (1743-1754) that showed the existence of a tavern, wine cellar and inn in the small town as of 1750. In their spare time, the couple continues to hunt for records proving that Casa Pedro indeed dates back to 1702, as is proclaimed on its walls, takeout bags and sugar packets. But even if they dig up the final documents and wrest the Guinness honor from Botín, Guiñales concedes that her restaurant's quiet location makes it unlikely to draw Botín's clientele in central Madrid. 'To think that we could reach that public would be incredible,' Guiñales said. 'It's a dream, but it's a dream.'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Quadruplets Nicknamed 'Quads of Aubs' Break World Record After Being Born More Than 100 Days Ahead of Schedule
Four siblings, nicknamed the "Quads of Aubs" broke the Guinness World Record to become the most premature quadruplets after they were born 115 days before their Sept. 23, 2024 due date Lainey, Kali, Lennon and Koen Bryant of Alabama were born to Becca and Lavareis Bryant on May 31, 2024; they were all releases from the hospital by December The previous record holders were the Tepper family in Australia, who held the title since 1997 after they were born 104 days earlyFour babies, nicknamed the "Quads of Aubs," made history by becoming the most premature quadruplets to survive birth. On Wednesday, June 11, Guinness World Records announced that the Bryant siblings of Alabama broke the record by arriving 115 days earlier than their Sept. 23, 2024 due date. The siblings, named Lainey, Kali, Lennon, and Koen, were born to parents Becca and Lavareis Bryant on May 31, 2024 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham hospital in Birmingham, Ala. 'The Bryant family in Alabama hosted a very special first birthday party this 31 May, to celebrate their four children who just made history as the most premature quadruplets,' the record-tracking organization shared in a press release. The record was previously held by the Tepper family in Australia. They broke it in 1997 after their quadruplets were born 104 days early. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Hearing our babies were the most premature quads put into perspective how lucky we were that all of them made it,' Becca told Live5News. 'When Lainey, Kali, Lennon and Koen were born, they were 115 days premature,' she added. 'Now, a year later, we were surrounded by family and friends to celebrate their first birthday.' ! On that fateful day in May 2024, a team of 30 maternal-fetal and neonatology experts was present to carry out the quadruplets' emergency cesarean delivery. Dr. Colm Travers told Guinness World Records that each baby had a "separate team" present in the delivery room to give them the best chance of surviving. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! 'The highest risk of complications and mortality for extremely preterm babies occurs during their first week of life,' Travers told Live5News. To help them out, they received UAB Golden Week care at the Level IV UAB Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit. Travers explained, 'The program focuses on minimizing complications in babies through that first critical week because it typically means a greater chance of survival and going home.' Becca, who shares three older children with her husband, went into early labor after her cervix shortened. She had a trichorionic quadra-amniotic pregnancy, which meant that there were only three placentas instead of four. Her water proceeded to break, and she was developing an infection, according to Guinness. 'I started getting pretty sick, pretty fast,' Becca recalled, speaking to Today. 'And then it felt like just few minutes later, I was on the operating table. It was pretty emergent.' The babies, who were conceived naturally, spent around six months in the neonatal intensive care unit. They were all sent home within days of each other in December 2024. While quadruplets, especially when they are conceived naturally, are incredibly rare, Guinness noted that Lavareis is a twin. Multiples in his family are relatively common; his sister also is a mom to twins. While they still suffer complications, they have improved by leaps and bounds. They are, however, receiving care from very qualified parents. 'People tell us, 'If anyone was supposed to have quads, it was y'all,'' Becca, who is a cardiac ICU nurse, told Today. 'We're both very laid-back and chill, we just handle what needs to be handled. In my job and my husband's job [Lavareis is a police officer], you don't have time to panic. You have to react quickly, and keep moving.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
14 hours ago
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Spain's Secuoya Studios Enters France with ‘No Second Chance' Producer Sydney Gallonde (EXCLUSIVE)
Secuoya Studios, the Madrid-based film and TV studio behind 'Shades' and 'Arcadia,' is set to enter France through a multi-year production and development deal with Sydney Gallonde, the indie French producer of Harlan Coben's hit series 'No Second Chance' and 'Just One Look.' Under this new deal, Gallonde will grant Secuoya Studios first-look rights to his upcoming premium projects telling French stories and narratives aimed at the global market. Aside from Coben's series, Gallonde also worked on 'French Riviera,' the series adapted from Guillaume Musso's bestseller, and has collaborated with MGM, Amazon, and NBCUniversal, among others. More from Variety Oscar-Nominated Doc 'La Corona' to Be Adapted as Scripted Feature (EXCLUSIVE) Spanish TV Ambition Plays Out Over Berlin Secuoya Studios Expands International Reach With New BlackBox Multimedia Partnership in the U.K. Beyond literary adaptations, Sydney also produced socially driven projects, such as 'Le Colosse aux pieds d'argile' starring Éric Cantona, which won the Golden Nymph for Best Film at the Monte Carlo TV Festival, among others. This new production deal with Gallonde is part of Secuoya Studios's plan to produce 30% ofits content in languages other than Spanish and generate revenues from international titles. Earlier this year, the company made its first foray into the U.K. market through a first-look development and production partnership with London-based BlackBox Multimedia. 'The French market, with its strong creative identity and international influence, is a strategic priority for us as we expand across Europe. It is a pleasure to join forces with Sydney Gallonde to bring to life original and exciting stories in French, with the potential to connect with global audiences,' said Brendan Fitzgerald, Secuoya Studios CEO. 'His deep French and international experience give us an essential global perspective to enrich our projects,' Fitzgerald continued. Gallonde, who is a self-starter and has a strong track record in scripted series, said he's convinced that 'French narratives now have a truly universal reach.' 'This partnership with Secuoya Studios allows me to open wider doors to the international market, without ever compromising the emotional and cultural depth of our stories,' continued Gallonde, adding he strives 'to create content that resonates across cultures, highlights underrepresented voices, and sparks meaningful conversations.'Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
