Valencia is a vibrant city where rich cultural heritage and traditions blend effortlessly with 21st-century life. And for all its magnificent historical monuments, it’s the city’s culinary legacy that has endured and evolved over the centuries. One dish in particular, the Valencian Paella, has woven itself deep into the fabric of the city’s identity and has become a special treat enjoyed around the world. This iconic rice dish has been around since the Moors occupied the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century, during which they introduced efficient agricultural techniques, such as the cultivation of rice.
Although Paella still reigns supreme over other traditional Valencian dishes, the region’s gastronomic scene has evolved in leaps and bounds with a gamut of dining options representing cuisine from around the world. But more remarkable is the region’s collection of 25 Michelin-star restaurants, 8 of which are within the city centre. It’s not surprising, though, given the city’s creative energy, an abundance of fresh ingredients from land and sea, and Mediterranean influences inspiring chefs to create innovative dishes.
Fierro is a wonderful discovery tucked in a quiet corner of the up-and-coming Ruzafa neighbourhood. The creative force behind this one-Michelin-star restaurant is the Argentinian husband-and-wife team of Carito Lourenço and Germán Carrizo, who honed their skills while working with the Quique Dacosta group before pursuing their dream, which gave birth to Fierro in 2015.
Fierro earned its first Michelin star in 2021, making Carito the first female Argentine chef to earn the prestigious accolade. The restaurant also garnered a Repsol sun and the highest score of five Radishes in the Discovery Awards 2024 from the We’re Smart Green Guide, ranking 32nd in its top 100 list.
Fierro’s dining area allows space for just 12 guests to enjoy a more private experience, comprising two tasting menus: Emotion and Evocation, each with its vegetarian version. Watching Carito and her team in the open kitchen preparing each dish, I sensed a collective passion and pride, even a Zen-like calmness, which emanates from Carito’s gentle, down-to-earth nature. The presentation is impeccable, the service ceremonial yet friendly and relaxed—from the delicate pouring of sauces to the meticulous layering of ingredients. Even the choice of cutlery and plates becomes an art form here.
Carito and Germán bring their own interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine and international flavours to the table, while also honouring their Argentine culinary roots. “Each dish is the essence of our journey, of our history and the reflection of our innovative look at gastronomy,” explains German. Fierro’s style transcends boundaries, blurring lines between sweet and savoury. Breaking with convention by harmonising contrasting flavours works beautifully, adding an extra dimension to the sensory journey.
Fierro aims to trigger an emotional response through image, taste, and texture, and the Emotion tasting menu certainly achieves that. The home-pickled vegetables, followed by taster portions of White Shrimp, Wild Asparagus and Moray Eel titillated the taste buds.
Next, the popular Latin street food, empanada, is elevated to another level in “Justina & Gilda”, based on an Argentinian recipe used by Germán’s mum. The meat is moist and tasty, made with the right balance of spices and enveloped in a light crust. Carito gets fresh ground meat from her favourite butcher at Ruzafa market, just a few paces from the restaurant. Hands down, it’s the best empanada I’ve ever tasted.
The Cremona “De Allá & De Acá”, a cushiony brioche paired with caviar, made a perfect match. Between the light Pasta & Taleggio and Lobster & Corn was “Remolacha”, an unusual and refreshing homemade beetroot cocktail. And finally, I was presented with a box containing a set of knives with exquisitely carved wooden handles, and had to pick one with which to slice my Pigeon dish. Especially handcrafted in Argentina, they are typically used by Gauchos in their day-to-day chores—cutting steak, cleaning the horses’ hooves, and apparently, even to “settle a disagreement”.
And who could disagree that the refreshing dessert, Citricos Valencianos (Grapefruit Mousse), followed by special petit fours, was the perfect way to round off an unforgettable gastronomic adventure. I highly recommend the non-alcoholic pairings, especially concocted to match every dish.
And those like me who craved for more of the “Justina & Gilda” empanadas can hop over to the Doña Petrona café and restaurant owned and managed by Carito and Germán. Only a few metres from Fierro and right across from Ruzafa market, it’s a great place for chilling out and savouring Valencian favourites made with an Argentinian twist, such as the “Esmorzar” lunch, washed down with “Juanita”, handcrafted by Carito and Germán with La Destilateca.
To find out more about Fierro and book, visit the links below:
Fierro
Calle Doctor Serrano 4
46004 Valencia
Spain
Web: fierrovlc.com
Tel: +34 96 330 5244
Email: reservas@fierrovlc.com
Online Booking: fierrovlc.com/reservas
Instagram: @fierrovlc
Facebook: @fierrovlc