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With the arrival of spring also comes one of the most beautiful landscapes with the cherry blossom. This spectacle that takes place in the Jerte Valley has been declared a festival of National Tourist Interest. The usual dates are between 20 March and 10 April, although this year it has been delayed by a few days. In fact, it will be from next week onwards when it is expected to be in full bloom.
This popular celebration attracts thousands of people who take a tour of all the villages that make up the Jerte Valley (Extremadura) to discover the cultivation of cherries and, at the same time, enjoy the culture and traditions of the region and, of course, the gastronomy. To give you a complete tour, here are some of the restaurants in the Jerte Valley where you must stop (and many of them have accommodation, in case your trip takes longer).
Flor del Cerezo restaurant
This restaurant has large windows offering wonderful views of the Jerte Valley. It is located inside the Hospedería Valle del Jerte, a hotel located in an old leather tanning building, which in the 20th century was converted into an oil mill, taking advantage of its proximity to the river Jerte. Of course, in the restaurant’s menu the star product is the “picota” cherry. They have a daily set menu at 18 € and a gastronomic menu at 35 €, as well as à la carte dishes. C/ Ramón Cepeda 118, 10612 Jerte (Cáceres).
Candilejas restaurant
Inside the rural hotel Aura del Jerte, which also has a SPA, in the Canalejas restaurant you have at your disposal an exquisite gastronomy of fresh seasonal products with which you can taste the best flavours of the Jerte Valley. At this time of year they offer a tasting menu ‘Cherry Blossom 2023’ for 45 €, in which you can try cherry sorbet, red tuna tartar with avocado cream and micro mezclum, veal cheeks with Pedro Ximénez on revolconas jerteñas or egg yolk foam au gratin with lemon ice cream and red fruit soup. C/ Coronel Golfín, number 59 10612 Jerte (Valle del Jerte).
Sabores del Jerte restaurant
Here you will discover the true essence of Jerte because it is located in Alberjerte, a hostel in a magical rural setting. The restaurant offers an exquisite gastronomy of the land, with traditional and modern dishes cooked with quality products, products with Designation of Origin. With an excellent quality-price ratio. They have a daily menu and also other special menus as part of the Mycological Days of the Jerte Valley or the Gastronomic Days of the Picota Cherry. Plaza Eulogio Alonso Elizo, 1, 10617 El Torno (Cáceres).
Pico Negro restaurant
On the large terrace of the Piconegro restaurant you can contemplate all the beauty of the Jerte Valley while you enjoy a unique gastronomic experience tasting the most natural and exquisite products of the area. Obviously, paired with the best wines from the Extremadura region. A wellness experience that can include massages in the spa, walks in the nearby forest and a drink in the chill out area. They have a special “Spring” tasting menu, with cherry as the main ingredient. As an appetizer, a skewer of crispy prawns with cherry ajoblanco. As a starter, they serve a cod and mango tartar with cherry and ginger yoghurt; for fish, they offer the option of choco and prawn meatballs in cherry sauce; while if you opt for meat, there is a Thai-style chicken brochette on cherry noodles. The sweet touch is provided by the almond cake ingot, cherry ganache, white chocolate sauce and meringue milk ice cream. The price is 40 €.
In addition, this restaurant is located inside the Valle del Jerte Spa Hotel, so your getaway can be unforgettable and very profitable. Carretera Nacional 110, Km 383 – Valdastillas (Cáceres).
Los Arenales restaurant
If you want to try typical local food, this is a must-visit. They also serve top quality meats in a menu of the day prepared with great skill. Located in the Hotel Los Arenales, next to the entrance to the Garganta de Los Infiernos Nature Reserve, you’ll be immersed in the deepest part of the Jerte Valley. In addition, in the summer of 2012 this restaurant was awarded the prize for the best rated restaurant at the VII Jornadas Gastronómicas de la Cereza Picota (7th Picota Cherry Gastronomic Days). Carretera Nacional 110, km 368 in Jerte (Valle del Jerte-Cáceres).
Garza Real restaurant
In the village of Valdastillas, in the heart of the Jerte Valley, you can sample traditional market cuisine, with the personal style of chef Teresa Núñez. They offer modern dishes mixed with traditional recipes. The menu is constantly changing and is based on local and seasonal products. They usually have menus for 38 €. All this in a very special establishment that preserves the traditional architecture of the original house and where you can also stay if you are going to enjoy hiking routes in the area. C/ Piscinas, 12 Valdastillas (Cáceres).
Las Palomas restaurant
Located on a farm surrounded by cherry trees, where there used to be a sheepfold, and which has now been restored to make way for rural flats, a tourist flat and this restaurant serving typical Extremaduran food. It has an extensive menu of dishes, all based on the traditional shepherds’ cuisine typical of the Extremadura mountains. If we add to that some delicious grilled meats (from kid to suckling pig or various grilled meats), plus typical dishes such as migas jerteñas or cherry gazpacho…, the visit will be like a movie. They have a daily menu from 12€. Paraje Las Gallardas sn, 10612 Jerte (Cáceres).
Judería Valle del Jerte restaurant
Another Hotel-Casa Rural and restaurant located in a unique setting: the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve, the natural pools and the river Jerte. The restaurant will not leave you indifferent. With the gastronomic proposal of the chef J. J. Flores you will have the opportunity to try the Special Menu of the Jerte Valley for 30 €. Dishes such as migas extremeñas with fried eggs, cherry gazpacho with crispy ham and black olive powder or grilled pork tenderloin with sweet and sour cherry sauce. Desserts also include options with cherries, such as cheesecake and biscuit with cherry jam. C/ Federico bajo 18-20, Cabezuela del Valle (Cáceres).