Traspi brings the Traspinedo lamb skewer to Madrid in Retiro

Chef Carlos Moreno opens Traspi, a restaurant in the Retiro neighbourhood, whose main dish is the Traspinedo lamb skewer, roasted over vine embers.

According to revistahosteleria.com, chef Carlos Moreno has opened Traspi, a restaurant in the Madrid neighbourhood of Retiro that brings the Traspinedo skewer to the capital. The menu revolves around this dish, which is prepared with pieces of lamb with bone and skin skewered on an iron spit and roasted directly over vine embers.

Unlike the slowly roasted Castilian lamb in a wood oven, in this case, the meat is exposed to the fire of the vine, which provides intense combustion and a unique aroma. According to the restaurant's description, the result is a golden, crispy exterior with a juicy interior. When finished, the meat slides off the skewer into a clay pot, the traditional way to serve it.

Moreno has over two decades of experience in the kitchen. He trained at the School of Hospitality and Tourism of the Community of Madrid and has worked in the kitchens of Quique Dacosta and Sula. Previously, he managed Evboca, a Madrid restaurant specialising in creative pintxos.

In addition to the skewer, the menu includes lamb croquettes, stuffed partridge eggs, lamb sweetbreads, country-style tortilla with jijas and wheat, and Madrid-style tripe, trotters, and snouts. For dessert, there is a sheep cheese mousse with red wine pears and Aguilar de Campoo biscuit, and a pine nut ice cream inspired by a classic Valladolid dessert.

The wine list is curated by Félix Lanz from Vinario, highlighting the clarete. The cocktails are managed by Javi Rufo, bartender at Cock, with offerings such as the Old Fashioned Castellano, which features smoked bourbon with vine shoots.

The restaurant is located at number 44 on Lope de Rueda street. The interior design is by Nacho Redruello and his studio Arquitectura Invisible, which has preserved original elements of the building such as exposed brick. The vine shoots also form part of the design, referencing the winemaking tradition of the Ribera del Duero. It is a small venue.