Oviedo, gastronomic capital

This Monday, Oviedo debuts as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy 2024. While it doesn't boast the best restaurants in the Principality, which are scattered throughout the region, the Asturian capital offers a range of options that faithfully reflect the rich gastronomy of Asturias. It's a high-quality selection with establishments to suit all tastes, from haute cuisine to cider houses, as well as traditional eateries. And to top it all off, there are excellent pastry shops.

This complements a rich cultural offering that ranges from the Cathedral to the pre-Romanesque monuments. This new year presents a great opportunity to discover this wealth of heritage and gastronomy. So, here are some suggestions for places to eat there.

Since November, Oviedo has once again had a Michelin-starred restaurant. Nacho Manzano's NM, located in the Nastura gastronomic space of the El Vasco shopping center, has earned it after barely a year in business. It's a minimalist dining room for around twenty guests with a menu that explores new culinary paths. But for me, the great restaurant in Oviedo, unfairly overlooked by Michelin, is Casa Fermín.

Luis Alberto Martínez, now joined by his son Guillermo, maintains a high level of consistency, based on excellent technique, sound judgment, and top-quality ingredients. His restaurant boasts the best service in the city. Just a few kilometers from Oviedo, in Caces, one of Asturias's great chefs, Pedro Martino, works his craft. A visit to his restaurant is well worthwhile.

For a more relaxed style of cooking, Ca Suso is another must-visit. Iván Fernández Feito, with his brother Vicente managing the dining room, demonstrates that Asturian cuisine has a very bright future. Cocina Cabal also stands out, offering a contemporary menu focused on quality ingredients in a pleasant setting. For traditional cuisine, consider Gloria, Nacho Manzano's informal restaurant; El Tizón; Casa Chema (with one of the best fabadas in Asturias); and the cider house Alterna (don't miss their pote).

Oviedo isn't exactly known for its bars, but there are a few places worth a visit. Take La Paloma, for example, which has been serving excellent vermouth aged in old barrels for over forty years, accompanied by battered prawns. Or El Ovetense, a stone's throw from the Cathedral, a long-established cider house famous for its roast ham with sauce or garlic fried chicken. What Oviedo does have in abundance are good pastry shops, with Asturian specialties like casadiellas and carbayones.

The best ones are Camilo de Blas, Auseva, and Rialto, plus the chocolates from Peñalba and Ovetus. And to top it all off, a visit to the El Fontán Market, from which they'll leave loaded with Asturian products.