Chef Yasmina – Spanish flair behind Spanish Nights
Posted on 5th March 2024
The latest Slane Castle dining series, Noches Españolas (Spanish Nights) has a genuine Spanish connection through our head chef Yasmina Bustillo Diez who is relishing the challenge of cooking dishes from her homeland and sharing them with guests, enhanced by a decidedly Spanish flavour to the entire experience.
Yasmina hails from historic Cantabria in the north of Spain, a glorious region of mountainous scenery, stunning beaches and of course amazing food. Yasmina’s grandmother was her earliest influence, introducing her to the joy of cooking and passing on recipes which she uses to this day. Her formal qualifications are in fine dining from the Basque Culinary Centre (Perfeccionamiento en Cocina) but Yasmina is an avid student of everything connected with food, constantly seeking to learn and improve. She and her family moved to Slane in 2020 and love the new life they have carved out for themselves. Unsurprisingly her children are her most demanding diners, accustomed to the best of food since they were tiny.
Yasmina is evangelical about the quality of local food available and particularly loves working with organic produce from Rock Farm, developing dishes and menus. Spain is a large country and the cuisine varies widely so designing the Spanish Nights menus was quite the challenge. It was one she enjoyed though and the response to her fusion food has been overwhelmingly positive. The basis of every dish she cooks is authentically Spanish but she brings in a special something from Ireland too, creating delicious dishes which appeal to local palates.
The family are well settled here but she does miss her homeland and of course her extended family and friends. As to food – well the dish Yasmina misses most is a good Iberian ham and fried squid.
Spanish Nights at Slane Castle consist of a Spanish Cocktail, Tapas appetisers and a stunning four-course Spanish menu served in the Gandon Room Restaurant. Live Spanish guitar music is provided by talented musician Pat Coldrick. The cost is €75 per person and booking is online. A limited number of overnight packages are available for each night.
