Riojan Potatoes with Chorizo and Chile

Tasting the sweet, fleshy potatoes from La Rioja, one understands why they are so central to this region’s cuisine: Even humble french fries here somehow taste like ambrosia. Much of the region’s potato production is concentrated around the picturesque Romanesque town of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. While some of these potatoes are destined for chips and other “industrial” uses all over Spain, locals keep the best varieties, such as Desiree or Marfona, for themselves. In this stew, chorizo