I independently & honestly review all of my travel recommendations. If you click on links I provide, I may receive compensation
In places that specialize in a particular drink, such as wine or beer, more and more restaurants are taking advantage of these opportunities to pair local cuisine with the local drink specialty. Jerez, Spain, is famous for its sherry production. When I visited, I went beyond the sherry tasting rooms to also have a phenomenal meal at the award-winning La Carboná, a restaurant that is at the forefront of connecting Spanish cuisine and sherry.
One way to get a nice introduction to Jerez is to take a tour. Check out these excellent tour options & book now!
La Carboná Restaurant Tasting Menu & Sherry Pairings Review
La Carboná is located in a former sherry bodega in central Jerez.
Owner and head chef Javier Muñoz is famous for his sherry and food pairings, earning him the nickname “The Sherry Chef.” The restaurant has held a Michelin star.
I went to La Carboná for lunch on a Monday afternoon right after I had taken a sherry bodega tour and tasting nearby. I had no problems getting a reservation, but during peak times, you should make a reservation ahead of time so as not to miss out.
Book your hotel in Jerez now!The former wine cellar consists of one big spacious room, which was filled with the pleasant din of patrons along with acoustic covers of indie and rock music such as The Postal Service, U2, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac, CCR, Elvis, and The Killers.
La Carboná offers both an à la carte menu and tasting menus. There is, of course, also an extensive list of sherry available, perhaps one of the best selections in the world.
When I visited, La Carboná was offering two different tasting menus with sherry pairings, both including the finest of local ingredients.
One menu focused solely on Fino sherry. The other was a broader sherry experience with a menu inspired by beloved local actress and flamenco dancer Lola Flores. Side note: Whenever I hear “flamenco dancer,” I think of the song “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows.
I opted for this Lola Carboná menu, as I wanted a fuller experience that explored the wide range of flavors of sherry.
Not only does each dish of the tasting menus at La Carboná include ingredients from around the region, but they also include sherry. The dishes are then paired with an appropriate sherry so you can see how that flavor accents the culinary work.
The first dish was a pate that used two different types of sherry. It was a poultry pate with Oloroso and a Pedro Ximénez veil, paired with mosto del año. I love a nice pate, and the pairing was nice.
The second pairing started with a Fino sherry from Inocente. Bodega Valdespino. The winemaker was friends with Lola Flores.
This was a lovely pairing with the grilled mussels in avocado marinade and Amontillado.
The rich combination of avocado and the sea flavors of mussels was fresh and well-paired. It was so good that I finished the sauce up with some of the bread.
For the third pairing, I received a glass of Amontillado Viña AB from Bodega González Byass. This sherry was actually from Lola’s signed cask, which is a cool way of tying her together with the theme of the tasting menu.
It was paired with veal sweetbreads, Oloroso glaze, and celeriac.
I realized that sweetbreads might not be for everyone. However, the smoked sweetbreads were tender and absolutely delicious.
The fourth sherry tasting was from a small winery in Lola’s hometown. The unfiltered Palo Cortado from Cruz Vieja just might have been my favorite sherry I’d had in Jerez so far.
The sherry was paired with grilled turbot in a sauce of Sarmiento de Viña, Brugal 1886 velouté, basil, and vegetables.
It was a lovely piece of fish, and the sauce was quite nice. I was glad I still had some bread left to get every delicious drop of it. Be someone who sops up every bit of great sauce with bread in life.
For the fifth tasting, there was a Harvey’s no bio Oloroso from Bodega Fundador. It had a gorgeous color.
This was paired with an Oloroso Iberian pork belly taco from Montesierra and chipotle chili mayonnaise. Lola Flores loved to travel and loved Mexico, so this dish marries the two countries.
The sixth wine pairing was the same as the fifth, but with one twist. The Harvey’s Oloroso sherry was smoked with wood at the table.
Do you have upcoming travel that you need to book? Use my travel resources page to make your bookings! There's no cost to you, and you'll be supporting my site. Thanks!
The smoked sherry was paired with Royal of Montesierra Iberian, Palo Cortado, and purple potato.
For dessert, it was time for a bit of a change. Instead of a glass of sherry, it was time for a cocktail. The lovely cocktail included a mojito base with brown sugar and mint, but also Amontillado sherry, Cardenal Mendoza brandy, and 7up.
This cocktail alone almost made me include La Carboná on my list of the best cocktail bars in Jerez.
The final course of dessert included tangerine ice cream, april, jasmine, and red fruit. It was inspired by Lola’s perfume.
For just 75 Euros, I had an excellent lunch that included a ton of sherry plus several delicious courses. It’s not a tasting menu where you leave hungry. It’s definitely a full meal and a great value.
Even as a lover of fine cuisine, every now and then I occasionally have a memorable meal that goes far beyond my high expectations. That was the case at La Carboná.
If you are visiting Jerez for its sherry tastings, a meal at La Carboná is an absolute must. It ties all the flavors of the region together.
Here are some great Jerez tours, including sherry tours and food tours, as well as some other fun things to do in Jerez.
