Page 259 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

Mesón de Abel, a charming historic building The extensive wine list features many small-
with a few small dining rooms decorated in production Riojas hard to find elsewhere.
traditional style and made for intimate din- Other choices include El Hórreo, a Miche-
ing. lin-starred restaurant serving creative
Chef Abel Mendoza and staff create tradi- Basque cuisine; Biazteri, focusing on sea-
tional Basque cuisine focusing on fresh, high- sonal Basque and Riojan cuisine; and Mar-
quality ingredients sourced locally. His spe- ixa, in a 16th-century house owned by a local
cialties include grilled meats, seasonal vegeta- winemaking family. Its specialties are tradi-
bles, fish and seafood dishes, and regional tional regional fare, like roasted lamb,
classics like Bacalao al Pil (cod in garlic sauce). grilled octopus, and stuffed peppers.

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