To celebrate the arrival of summer we organised a “white”-themed dinner.

The plan was to hold it outdoors on the restaurant’s terrace but if the weather was inclement we would adjourn indoors. What we did not realise at the time of making the plans was that the “bad” weather would not be rain driving us indoors but would be the exceptionally high temperatures of a heatwave originating from the Sahara Desert!

Part of the Oter Group - owner Gerardo Oter Sanchez is Argentier of Spain - El Barril de Orense is reputed to have the best cuisine in the financial heart of Madrid. To accompany the food, wines came from Conde de Villaseñor, a new associate, which presented us with its range of Rioja designation wines.

For the reception we enjoyed Cava and a Marques de Cadai Rosado (rosé) from Conde de Villaseñor with croquettes and a traditional gazpacho. The restaurant’s famous croquettes always deserve a mention!

MENU

Sea bass and red shrimp ceviche
Rioja Marqués de Cadai Blanco

Grilled artichokes on mushroom cream
Rioja Conde de Villaseñor Tinto Crianza

Barbecued red tuna with tomato concassé
Rioja Conde de Villaseñor Tinto Reserva

Taco of barbecued red meat
purple potato and piquillo
Conde de Villaseñor Tinto Gran Reserva

Desserts
Mango sorbet | Truffles | Tejas | Cheesecake | Pastries

And courtesy of the restaurant, plates of cheese were served for those who wished to continue with the Rioja Gran Reserva.

Situated in the Rioja Alavesa Conde de Villaseñor only uses the Tempranillo grape variety for its reds, the examples of which we savoured with the dinner clearly expressed the potency of Spanish red wines.

At the end of dinner a Diploma of Appreciation were awarded to Chef Jayson Benítez Fermante and the kitchen brigade. A Diploma was also presented to Maître D’ Luis Miguel Contreras Flores and his front of house team.

It was a beautiful evening aided in no small part by the restaurant’s air conditioning which enabled us to withstand the heat of Madrid and concentrate on enjoying the excellent menu, superb wines, and not forgetting the great presentation by the winery’s representative.

Vive la Chaîne!

César González Zamora
Chevalier