Photo of
October 18, 2017
Rioja restaurant
Galician blond beef is one of the specialities on the eight course tasting menu at Rioja restaurant.

This weekend, Michelin-starred chef Modesto Fabregat is leading a takeover at Rioja restaurant in Glasgow’s Finnieston.

From Sunday 22nd October to Wednesday 25th, the Spanish chef is working with Luis Urrutiabeaskoa, Rioja’s Head Chef, to produce an eight course tasting menu.

The event follows on from the success of a similar takeover last October.

Both chefs trained in the Basque Country before travelling widely as they moved up the kitchen ranks.

Chef Fabregat has a rather stellar CV which suggests that his second Rioja residency will be very memorable.

He established the restaurant Arbequina in Castellon in 2000. Before that, the chef did stints in numerous high end restaurants including Restaurant Taillevent in Paris and Restaurant l’Oustau de Baumanière in Provence.

Rioja restaurant: Scottish produce, modern Spanish cooking

The £65 tasting menu is a combination of clever modern cooking and the best Scottish produce.

For example, one course consists of beetroot cappuccino, truffle-infused yolk and langoustines from Scotland’s West Coast.

Another course features pigeon from Arbroath with pumpkin and foraged mushrooms.

Other courses make good use of Spanish ingredients such as Galician blond beef.

The 5pm Dining blog was especially intrigued by the sound of one of the earlier courses which mixes air-cured ceon de Leon beef with watermelon and Rioja’s Boudoir cocktail.

Pushing boundaries every day

Speaking of the Michelin Takeover, Eduardo Fernandez Blanco, operations manager of Rioja and the Rotunda Restaurant Group said:

‘Pushing boundaries in flavour is what our chefs set out to do every day. They’re inspired by their surroundings and their Spanish heritage. In Rioja and in Spain, food is a way of life. It’s in our blood. We always try to reflect our culture and passion in our dishes and we’ve worked hard to create an exclusive menu for Glasgow to enjoy.’

The eight-course tasting menu is priced at £65pp and is available in the evenings from Sunday, 22nd October until Wednesday, 25th October. Matched wines are available.

And if an eight course, Michelin-inspired gastronomic feast sounds a little daunting, Rioja has other options to offer.

Book Rioja with 5pm Dining

Book in to Rioja for lunch today via 5pm Dining and you can enjoy three tapas from the pre-theatre menu along with a glass of wine for £14.95.