Cáceres’ Culinary Secret: A Michelin-Star Bargain Hunt

Nestled within Cáceres’ UNESCO-honeyed stone walls, Atrio shines as Extremadura’s lone three-Michelin-starred temple—its €250 tasting menu (sans wine) a relative steal in the starred universe. Yet polarized reviews gave me pause. Wisely, I first tested Torre de Sande, its sibling restaurant under the same ownership and just steps away, crowned with a Michelin Recommendation and a mere €50 tasting menu (wine excluded). 🏡 The Stage: Both restaurants breathe within century-old manor houses, but Torre de Sande stuns with its secret garden courtyard. We dined under a twilight canvas as swifts darted around the bell tower, their silhouettes cutting through peach-colored skies. Vines climbed moss-kissed walls; terracotta pots overflowed with lavender and rosemary. History here felt alive, not preserved. 🍷 Liquid Gold of Extremadura: We chose a local red—fruit-forward, silky, with whispers of wild plum and cracked pepper—unpretentious and gluggable, much like the region itself. 🍽️ The €50 Tasting Menu Unpacked: 1️⃣ Crispy Ham Croquettes Hot, molten béchamel studded with shreds of acorn-fed jamón ibérico. Competent but safe—a warm-up. 2️⃣ "Russian" Potato Salad A playful twist: Chilled potatoes layered with smoked trout and pickled mustard seeds. Refreshing, though forgettable. 3️⃣ Fried Shrimp "Salad" Golden-fried gambas perched on lemon-dressed rocket. The shrimp sang—plump, sweet—but the greens felt like an afterthought. 4️⃣ Cod in Saffron Cream Flaky Atlantic cod bathing in golden sauce. Well-cooked but lacked revelation. 5️⃣ ⭐ Star of the Night: Roasted Iberico Pork Here’s where Extremadura’s soul emerged. Secreto cut (the jewel between shoulder and loin) Charred edges giving way to blush-pink, butter-soft flesh Smoked paprika crust with a hint of orange zest Served with quince-glazed turnips One bite confirmed: Only here, where black pigs roam dehesas, does pork taste this profound. 🍫 Dessert: Dense chocolate cake with rosemary ice cream—a satisfying, if predictable, finale. 💎 The Verdict: Torre de Sande is Atrio’s charming younger sibling—less ambitious, but radiating authentic Extremaduran warmth. Its courtyard alone is worth the €50. And that pork? A masterclass in humility and fire. Now… shall I dare Atrio next? 📍 Torre de Sande: Calle de los Condes, 3, Cáceres #IbericoMagic #ExtremaduraWines #SecretCourtyards