Four Aragonese tapas will fight to become the best in Spain

The best tapas in Spain will come together at the 20th National Pinchos and Tapas Competition in Valladolid, where four chefs from Aragon will fight for the first prize. These are two well-known restaurants from Zaragoza and two from Huesca.

From among 250 gastronomic proposals , the jury chose 45 chefs from all the Autonomous Communities of Spain, who will have to prove their worth on November 11 and 12 at the Millennium Dome, with the aim of competing for the title of National Tapas Champion 2024. The jury will be chaired by Toño Pérez, chef of the prestigious Atrio restaurant, Cáceres.

NOLA GRAS

One of them is Nola Gras, a Zaragoza establishment led by Alex Viñal and David Lorente, who will once again compete in the final, this time with their proposal ” Berli-Thai “. The tapa was inspired by a trip to Thailand by Lorente five years ago: an original berlina filled with Toffee-Thai, low-temperature egg yolk and freeze-dried coconut that will transport diners on an exotic sensory journey through the flavours of Bangkok.

“It is a great joy to be back in the Olympus of miniature gastronomy,” said David Lorente. “For us it is an honour to represent Zaragoza in a competition of this level and to share our passion for creative cuisine with the rest of Spain” admitted Alex Viñal.

Nola Gras has a long list of awards and recognitions, including the ” Most Original Tapa ” in the Zaragoza and province Tapas Competition in 2023 and a runner-up prize in the 2023 edition of the National Competition. 

THE MOUTH

La Bocca Mediterranean Mood is the second restaurant in Zaragoza to compete for a prize in the competition. Led by chef Jorge Calonge, it presents the tapa “ Buñuelo de Cierzo ”, which shows “the best of local gastronomy in miniature”. It is a Letux cheese fritter filled with Ternasco de Aragón and pickled borage.

The tapa is served in a display case filled with smoke that simulates the cierzo, topped with the size of the Virgen del Pilar from the flag of Aragon. “A tribute to our land”, they describe.

THE PORTAL HOSTEL

Hostal Portal is one of the restaurants in Huesca that has managed to make a name for itself among the chosen ones. Opened in 1998, the establishment is located on the banks of the Cinca and offers a variety of home-style and traditional cuisine with local products, without forgetting the new culinary trends. 

The tapa presented for the competition by chef Ramón Jesús Lapuyade Burro is called “ Ten ‘Don Pepito’ ¡¡¡Espero que te Mole!!! ”.

THE ERA OF THE WALNUT TREES

This restaurant from Huesca, located in the picturesque town of Sardas, has the title of Bib Gourmand from the Michelin guide and the Sol Repsol. La Era de los Nogales is led by chef  Toño Rodríguez Iguacel and his dishes have won multiple awards. Among them, the tapa presented for the competition, “ Bocado de mar y tierra ”, which evokes Aragonese flavours and the air of the Mediterranean Sea.

Among a range of awards and recognitions, the establishment has the Award for Best Restaurant in Aragon from the Aragonese Academy of Gastronomy and the Chef of the Year 2024 Award from Toño Rodríguez.