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Vegetables
The local farms of Orense are very prodigal. We must mention the magnificent potatoes that grow in the region of A Limia. The turnip tops are excellent, as well as the peppers from Arnoia which can be green, red or dappled, different from the Galician varieties. Mushrooms are also very abundant in this province, although they are not widely consumed here but rather exported to other Spanish and foreign markets. In Ourense, like in the rest of Galicia, seafood is very popular and fresh, brought to this province from the nearby sea. But when it comes to fish we must focus on the fresh-water kind, which take the centre stage in Ourense. They have great trout, excellent eel, shad, salmon and lamprey. Octopus deserves a special mention in Carballiño, where they have a traditional festivity dedicated to it, perhaps the most popular of all the celebrations in this province.
Farm and game meats
Ourense is the ideal place to have some of the famous Galician soup, cocido (meat, potatoes and chickpea stew) and shoulder of pork with turnip tops. Pork is the most popular meat and, traditionally, the slaughtering of the pigs constitutes a gastronomical feast. Also popular is goat meat, specially the baby goat roasted in a pot. Game is very abundant. In Ourense we can find woodcock, partridge, pigeon, rabbit, hare, wild boar and roe deer.There is a product from Orense that has universal fame: the chestnuts. In November, they have a celebration built around the traditional magostos, roasting chestnuts in a fire. An important chestnut industry has also developed and products like Ourense's marron glacé (candied chestnuts) are proudly displayed on the windows of the best delicatessen in Spain and the rest of Europe. Another exceptional product in the realm of Ourense's gastronomy is honey, used to make yummy specialities like the traditional biscuit from Trives known as bica.
Wines and restaurants
Ourense in an exceptional wine region. Magnificent wine. Four out of the five Galician Designations of Origin are contained in this province: part of Ribeira Sacra, with the great red wines from Mencía grapes; Valdeorras, with elegant white wines from Godello grapes and red wines from Mencía grapes and other varieties; the growing Monterrei, in the Duero basin, the most famous one of all; and finally O Ribeiro, where the return to traditional grape varieties is yielding excellent white wines (Treixadura grapes in particular) and great red wines that get better every year. Ourense also produces excellent liqueurs and spirits. Sanmiguel Restaurant, described as the horn of plenty, offers all kinds of sea and land cuisine. It was rated 1 sun by the CAMPSA guide and it is located at the heart of Ourense's capital. Other great restaurants where the visitor will have the best regional food are Casa Fandiño and Roupeiro Restaurant, recommended by the CAMPSA guide because of their great fare and moderate prices.
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