This town is found on the banks of the Tormes river, where the remains of a universally-known Spanish saint, Santa Teresa de Jesús, rest. If you want to know what to eat in Alba de Tormes, the local gastronomy is typical to Castile, and the restaurants always offer roasts of tostón (suckling lamb) and baby goat as fundamental dishes.
You’ll also find beef and in-season game—the area is famous for the “partridge a lo Alba”, a stew with pork chop, ham and olives.
Always present are the embutido sausages, with Iberian pork from Salamantine pastures. In the Tormes valley they grow excellent white beans, which are eaten with chorizo, pig’s ear and fried trout from the river.
The chanfaina is a very popular stew based in rice, boiled blood, lamb chops and various spices that is eaten especially on June 13th, the day that the Feria de Alba is celebrated. Another typical dish to eat in Alba de Tormes is the farinato, prepared with a base of bread crumbs, pork, onion and boiled egg in the style of an embutido sausage. You can also order hornazo, an empanada filled with chorizo and other sausages, as well a garlic soup with torreznos, eggs and minced ham.
Wash down this gastronomic experience with the large variety of wines in the region, like the Vino de los Arribes, Sierra de Salamanca, or Tierra del Vio de Zamora, all with Denomination of Origin. In terms of typical desserts, we recommend the yemas de Alba (“yolks of Alba”), pine nougat, candied almonds and meringues.
Come eat in Alba de Tormes!