The undoubted stars of the show at Ancestral are fire and smoke! To a backdrop of contemporary-industrial decor and stunning lighting, and with lots of success behind him in other restaurants despite his young age, chef Víctor Infantes showcases his strong passion for cooking. His two tasting menus (Origen and Silvestre) change in line with market availability and always champion the produce and flavours of La Mancha from a modern perspective, converting humble ingredients into haute-cuisine dishes (including some surprising smoke-infused touches) but without renouncing time-honoured ancestral cooking techniques (hence the restaurant’s name). Highlights on the menu include the traditional “escabeche”, the Las Pedroñeras garlic soup served in a clay pot, the textured D.O.P La Mancha onion, and the wild duck with smoked butter, which is finished on the grill with a duxelle of wild mushrooms and a spicy fig compote.