Begoña Rodrigo, chef of the Michelin-starred restaurant La Salita, prepared a menu interpreting the photographic exhibition by Chema Madoz, currently on display at the Centre del Carme in Valencia as part of Festín, Valencia’s Art and Gastronomy Festival, now in its 7th edition.
To complement her feast, the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin collaborated with three Bobal wines: the sparkling Bobal Brut from Vicente Gandía; the Alto Cuevas rosé from Bodegas Covilor; and the Bobal Finca Casa la Borracha red from Hispano Suizas.
Rodrigo presented a four-course tasting menu where vegetables took center stage, honoring her recognition as the world’s best vegetable chef (2024). The culinary concept was based on the idea that “nothing is what it seems,” with the chef playing with the diner’s perception by presenting dishes that appeared to be something else entirely.
The guests, led by Rodrigo and La Salita’s sommelier Jorne Buurmeijer, enjoyed a pairing of:
- Bobal sparkling wine with shiitake mushroom pâté
- Bobal rosé with pastrami
- And Bobal red wine with two dishes: vegan sobrasada and a plant-based version of cured pork loin.
The chosen venue for this delightful experience was the Centre del Carme museum in Valencia, in a room hosting the photographic exhibition “Letter and Compass” by artist and National Photography Prize winner Chema Madoz. Madoz, and his ability to transform everyday objects into images brimming with meaning, inspired the menu presented by the chef.
These initiatives aim to create a sensory experience for visitors through food, culture, and art in various locations throughout the city.
For the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin, it was an honor to be part of this initiative, which will surely be repeated given its great public reception.
