Asturian Food Asturias is well-known for its hearty winter bean stews, its excellent beef and veal, game and trout in season, strong blue cheeses, chestnuts and, most importantly, its superb seafood. Butterbeans are the basis of fabada that includes bacon, sausage and chorizo, all in a strong meaty sauce. Pote Asturiana is a lighter stew made with beans, potatoes, vegetables and meat. Other delicious combinations include beans with clams, a dish known as Almejas. From the high, rich pastures of the Picos de Europa, strong, tangy blue cheeses have been made for centuries. From nearby Cabralles, comes an even stronger blue cheese that used to be matured in mountain caves. The blue cheeses are used to flavour sauces for huge steaks or veal cutlets, in croquettes or eaten with the crusty local bread whilst drinking cider. The outstanding seafood dishes can be found at countless restaurants running along the coast of Asturias. Close to Xideces, there are two very good restaurants recommended by the local tourist board, that offer a mixture of the above dishes and, of course, Isabelle also prepares excellent examples.