What to eat and where in Ezcaray (La Rioja): restaurants

A fundamental part of every trip is gastronomy and much more if we are talking about a destination like The Rioja.

And we are in one of the places in Spain where you can eat and, of course, drink the best.

If we talk about gastronomy, The Rioja It is known mainly for being the land of one of the best wines in the world.

But it is said that where there is good wine, there is good food, since they are two pleasures that go hand in hand.

There are many trips that we have made over the years to The Rioja, but recently we have had the possibility of entering an area that we really wanted to know.

Taking advantage of our visit to the Valdezcaray ski resort, we have spent a few days touring the surroundings of the town of Ezcaraywith various nature activities, and discovering their restaurants and typical dishes.

That's why here we bring you a list with our selection of the typical dishes that we consider essential to test and the restaurants where you eat better throughout the Ezcaray valley and surroundings.

Typical meals in Ezcaray in La Rioja

Normally when we travel we tend to try as many things as possible. typical dishes, completely forgetting what we usually eat.

This means that throughout our trips we taste a wide variety of preparations and thus we are clear about what is really worth recommending.

Rioja Joys

the joys are a chillies that we were lucky enough to discover in the town of Ezcaray.

We tested them in Masip House, breaded and stuffed with minced meat, and just to say that the next day we returned for another one.

It is one of those skewers that are a pleasure to try, especially for those who like spicy food and go to a skewer dinner, as is our case.

Caparrones from La Rioja

On previous occasions we had been wanting to try the caparrones, and this time we have been able to get rid of the thorn.

The caparrones are a kind of red beansmaller than usual and typical of the La Rioja region.

It is taken in one of those typical spoon stews how well they enter winter days.

A day of skiing in the morning and for lunch, caparrones, is one of those ways to enjoy a good day in this area.

Of course, we warn you that you may need a nap later.

Riojan Garlic Soup

Another of those typical dishes that are especially recommended for dinner are soups.

Winters can have low temperatures in the Ezcaray Valley, especially when there is thermal inversion and for this reason soups are other strong points of gastronomy.

And one of our favorites is Riojan garlic soup.

An absolutely traditional dish whose recipe is passed down from generation to generation.

Lamb chops with vine shoots, typical dish in La Rioja

But not everything in The Rioja They are spoon dishes.

For those of you who like meat, you have to try the lamb chops.

In our opinion, they are best when cooked at the ember with vine shoot firewood, the authentic way of making them in The Rioja.

They can be eaten at any time of the year and it is one of the typical and essential dishes of summer barbecues.

Riojan-style cod

Cod. It is a product that is used in gastronomy in many areas of the world and with which a multitude of dishes are prepared.

And curiously far from the coast, in some inland areas, such as The Rioja, some of the best preparations have been achieved.

El Rioja-style cod It has so much name that it is probably one of the great dishes of the Spanish cuisine.

A “simple” preparation but whose secret lies in the quality of the cod and the way it is accompanied with a sauce of tomato and peppers from the Rioja garden.

Vegetables and Mushrooms in La Rioja

In La Rioja the main crop, obviously, is the vine to obtain its prestigious wine, and the space it leaves has been used very well.

That is why it is very common to find dishes based on the garden such as vegetable stew.

It is also worth highlighting, of course, the valued Rioja pepper which can be found in a multitude of preparations.

And if you visit La Rioja in autumn, you must always include in your meals mushrooms area.

Torrijas, dessert in La Rioja

All good gastronomy that is provided must have a good ending to your meals, and in our trip through La Rioja we have to recognize that they have beaten us the French toasts.

Yes, torrijas, that characteristic dessert of the eastern throughout Spain, we have been able to find it in all the restaurants we have visited.

With its own touch, the Rioja torrija It is one of those delicious desserts to try.

It's nice that at this time when all restaurants tend to monopolize their dessert menus with cheesecakes, you can eat something as delicious as a good torrija.

Restaurants to eat in Ezcaray and surroundings

And let's go with the restaurants that we recommend you take into account if you are going to visit the Ezcaray Valley and surroundings.

We propose several types of restaurants and in different locations, so you can enjoy the entire environment and not just stick to eating in one place.

The Portal of Echaurren (Ezcaray)

If we are talking about Ezcaray, without a doubt we have to put it first on the list The Echaurren Portal.

A restaurant with 2 Michelin Stars with tasting menu and plates of letter.

It should be noted that it has a more than reasonable price for the quality it offers and that is reflected in the category of the award, and it is one of the great gastronomic icons of La Rioja.

Furthermore, the chef Francis Paniego offers another gastronomic proposal with the Tondeluna restaurant.

The idea of ​​this new restaurant is to bring the essence of The Echaurren Portal.

Casa Masip Restaurant and Bar (Ezcaray)

For its part, Masip House It is also part of the essence of Ezcaray.

We are talking about a family business in the heart of town, which encompasses a cozy rural hotel with very good restaurant or with a pincho bar.

Three high-quality businesses to enjoy your stay in Ezcaray.

Regarding gastronomy, its two dining options are worth a visit.

The restaurant is designed in a calmer sense and in the format of a Traditional food, Whereas the pincho bar It is the most informal facet.

For lunch, I would recommend visiting the restaurant, and for dinner, go and have some wine at the bar, where you can taste some of their varied pinchos.

We especially recommend the stuffed eggplant and artichoke skewers, poached eggs with bechamel, txaca skewer and, of course, joy.

And in the restaurant, the chops, menestra and caparones, which are also in the bar.

Rural house Zaldierna (Zaldierna)

After the village of Ezcaray and going up the valley on the road that will lead you to Valdezcaray, there is a small village where we recommend stopping to eat.

Zaldierna It is the typical place with barely 20 inhabitants, with beautiful corners of stone houses, where you "smell the firewood", and where surprisingly there is a highly recommended restaurant.

In the rural house Zaldierna You can eat truly surprising dishes.

They have a tasting menu that usually changes throughout the year, which includes typical products from the environment.

Red deer, wild pig and several other products small game, ear stew o beans, are some of the silverware that can be tried in this restaurant.

And once you have eaten, we recommend taking a walk around the small village while you put down the food.