Gastronomy
Botillo Berciano Photos: El Bierzo Tourist Board.
Botillo, the best-known dish in the Leonese region, is one of the protagonists of the Gastronomic Days that are held until December
Gastronomy is, together with the beautiful natural environment and historical heritage, the great tourist attraction of El Bierzo
The El Bierzo region is one of the most beautiful in León.
Located to the west of the province, beautiful and fertile valleys converge through which numerous rivers flow, lush forests, open-cast mines from Roman times (Las Médulas), gold trails, charming towns anchored in the Middle Ages, reserves of the Biosphere (Los Ancares), forts, stone bridges, ancestral churches and even Templar castles.
All this natural, historical and monumental heritage represents a first-rate tourist attraction, which in recent years has also been completed by the
enormous and spectacular gastronomic offer of the area
.
It boasts two products with Denomination of Origin (the Bierzo wines and the Bierzo reineta apple) and seven Protected Geographical Indication stamps, among which are the conference pear, chestnuts, roasted peppers and
the coveted botillo
.
There are many who do not forgive each winter going to eat this overwhelming dish (smoked and semi-cured sausage, made with different parts of the pig, such as the rib or the tail, chopped, marinated with salt, paprika and garlic and other natural spices, and that it is usually accompanied by cachelos, cabbage or chickpeas).
If you are a fan of this stew (or want to try it for the first time) or any of the Berciano products, the next few weeks are a good time to get closer to El Bierzo and surrender to the culinary arts of the local stoves.
Until December 8, the region celebrates 36 Gastronomic Days
, in which 29 establishments participate offering their special menus for the occasion maintaining all levels of safety and hygiene (diners will have at their disposal a QR code with which they can download the letters),
at a price that ranges between 20 and 49 euros
.
Below we propose seven of the best restaurants in the area to taste a good menu from Bercia.
We also recommend strolling before or after some of the wonders that the region has, either to
make you hungry
or to get off your feast.
LA CASONA RESTAURANT
The botillo de La Casona.
This stone and wood house, typical of the Bierzo region, is a gastronomic landmark on the outskirts of charming Ponferrada.
It offers traditional home cooking and its menu does not lack the botillo berciano accompanied by cachelos and roasted peppers or the cecina de León.
Where:
Real, 71. Ponferrada.
Conference menu price:
27 euros.
When:
Wednesday and Sunday (noon) and Friday and Saturday (noon and night).
Reservations:
987 455 358 or http://restaurantelacasona.com/
A walk:
A 5 km drive takes you to the center of Ponferrada.
A visit to the Castle of the Templars is a must, a 12th century fortress on an old fort, former bastion of the Order of the Temple (free admission).
THE HOUSE OF THE BOTILLO
The House of Botillo.
As its name suggests, this restaurant at the foot of a hill and on the banks of the river, south of Ponferrada, specializes in botillo.
Among other home-made dishes, the pickled trout salad with roasted Berciano peppers and the pippin apple pie for dessert stand out.
Where:
Matadero, 7. Ponferrada.
Conference menu price:
27 euros.
When:
From Sunday to Thursday (noon);
Friday and Saturday (noon and night).
Reservations:
987 411 537 or www.lacasadelbotillo.com
A walk:
Going along the Sil river until the confluence with the Boeza river.
You can also cross a bridge that leads to the other shore and go to Temple Park.
Or you can also walk (10 minutes) to the Castillo de los Templarios.
FINCA VIVALDI
Crispy botillo gyoza, black garlic emulsion and basil oil, from Finca Vivaldi.
In a wooded area and forming part of a stone hotel surrounded by gardens, the place has traditional dishes with modern touches, such as wonton cannelloni of roe deer and apple pippin with chestnut chips or crunchy botillo gyoza and black garlic emulsion and basil oil.
Where:
Vivaldi, s / n.
San Miguel de las Dueñas.
Conference menu price:
28 euros.
When:
Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (noon);
Friday and Saturday (noon and night).
Reservations:
987 467 021 or www.fincavivaldi.es
A walk:
Two kilometers away is the Monastery of San Miguel de las Dueñas, owned by Cistercian nuns, founded in the 10th century, but rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries.
8 km away is the Bárcena reservoir.
LA CENTRAL RESTAURANT
The central.
Located in the old and renovated premises of what was once the first power station of the Minero Siderúrgica de Ponferrada, MSP, now converted into the Fábrica de la Luz-Museo de la Energía, this modern restaurant offers the empanada de mussels and chorizo among its traditional dishes.
Nor should you miss trying their cocktails, especially the martini.
If the weather is nice, it is recommended to sit on the modern terrace overlooking the Sil River.
Where:
Avda. De la Libertad, 46. Ponferrada.
Conference menu price:
36 euros.
When:
Friday (night);
Saturdays (noon and night) and Sundays (noon).
Reservations:
987 039 355.
A walk:
Visit the Factory of Light-Museum of Energy, a space for cultural and scientific leisure around energy as the protagonist of people's lives for centuries (entry: 3 euros).
WINE BAR & BOTANICAL
Braised pork focaccia with charcoal and caramelised El Bierzo peppers, from Vinomio Bar & Botánico.
In the old town of Ponferrada and in a stately house converted into a bar, wine bar and restaurant, this new concept of restoration is located that combines two totally different environments.
On the one hand, the classic
Vinomio
, the bar and wine bar, which occupies the cellar of the house with a rustic setting, and on the other, on the top floor,
Botánico
, the restaurant, which bets on products from Bierzo cooked on the grill of Holm oak.
As a welcome aperitif: battalion grilled empanada coca.
Where:
Aceiterías, 9. Ponferrada.
Conference menu price:
30 euros.
When:
Tuesday to Sunday (noon and night).
Reservations:
661 788 421.
A walk:
Forced to stroll through the old town of Ponferrada to come across emblematic enclaves such as the Clock Tower, the Basilica of the Virgen de la Encina, the Town Hall Square, or the walls of the Castle of the Templarios.
Another essential excursion is to
visit Las Médulas,
35 km away by car, and marvel at the surroundings of this ancient Roman gold mine.
RESTAURANT CASA MÉNDEZ
Méndez House in Ponferrada.
Three generations of the family and 75 years with the stoves lit uninterrupted is the background of this establishment of traditional Bercian cuisine in Villafranca del Bierzo, located five minutes from the center of the medieval town next to the Valcarce river.
It is recommended to taste its meat or fish, and of course its traditional recipe botillo, and wash it down with the best Bierzo wines.
Where:
Espíritu Santo, 1. Villafranca del Bierzo.
Conference menu price:
25 euros.
When:
Friday (night; Saturday (noon and night); Sunday (noon).
Reservations:
987 540 055/987 542 408 or https://www.restaurantemendez.com.
A walk:
Right on the Camino de Santiago, the medieval town houses treasures such as the Church of San Francisco, La Colegiata, the Castle or any of the palaces located on Calle del Agua.
VILLAFRANCA DEL BIERZO PARADOR
Villafranca Parador.
Trout, sausages, empanada, peppers, chestnuts and botillo (served with cachelos and cabbage), all washed down with Bierzo wines, star in the menu of the restaurant of the modern parador located at the entrance of Villafranca, which combines cuisine traditional with avant-garde touches.
A sample of this is the appetizer on the menu served during the Gastronomic Days season: roasted pepper flan from El Bierzo, garlic crumble and mozzarella pearl.
Where:
Avda. Calvo Sotelo, 28. Villafranca del Bierzo.
Conference menu price:
32 euros.
When:
from Friday to Sunday (noon and night).
Reservations:
987 540 175 or www.paradores.es
A walk:
Apart from touring the charming town, it is recommended to visit the
Sierra de los Ancares, a protected natural area declared a Biosphere Reserve
, about 70 km from Villafranca.
An environment where you can see bears, grouse, mountain goats, roe deer or wolves among the immense forests of oaks, holly, birch and chestnut trees, as well as forts, bridges, mills, monasteries and the traditional pallozas, the most emblematic construction of the area of pre-Roman origin that humans and animals shared to live.
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