Valencia Food
Spanish food is typically associated with paella and Valencia is the home of this dish. The mixture of rice, seafood, meat and spices is served at restaurants with pride and each restaurant seems to have its own spin on the classic dish, with some including rabbit instead of chicken or just relying on seafood.
Even paella Valenciana, which is thought to be the definitive original paella, comes with different twists across the city's restaurants. Other variations include Arroz Negre – or black rice – a version of paella using squid ink to darken the rice, and fideuá - paella with the rice replaced with noodles.
The port has a major influence over the cuisine of Valencia – bringing in a great selection of seafood that dominates menus and dishes other than paella across the city.
Other dishes to look out for include Suquet de Peix – a fish pie, made of potatoes, tomatoes and topped with an almond crust. Like paella, the type of fish – from prawns to eel – depends on the chef.
Recipes for hervido – or bollit – also differ in different restaurants but the basis of the dish is a stew of potatoes, onion and green beans – although spinach or beetroot can also be added.
Embutidos sausages are also worth trying.
For a quick lunch the place to head is one of the bars or cervecerias around the Central Market – along with a cool beer or wine and good food comes at a good price. One cerveceria to look out for is El Kiosco on Plaza Doctor Collado.
On Calle Cirilo Amoros, Choclatl – which is half cafe, half sweet shop and half patisserie – is the perfect place to stop for a mid-morning shopping break or as the afternoon sun starts to cool a little, although it is open until 9pm.
The mini-spinach quiches are particularly well recommended, but for those with a sweet tooth the eclairs are a must. Choclatl's eclair Avellana are filled with cream but are entirely dipped in dark chocolate.
La Diabla on Calle de Roteros also offers good value food – specialising in fresh seafood.
The district of Barrio del Carmen is bustling full of restaurants and bars – with a good mix of traditional places where the best paella and more modern establishments that often add a modern twist to Spanish classics.
Earlier this year beside the port on Carrer dels Catalans in a 19th century traditional Valencian house, the restaurant Messana opened. The simple interior – mixing rustic and modern elements – matches the menu. The fish that comes fresh the port is used to create traditional Mediterranean fare, but on offer the range of drinks and cocktails match any high class bar in Valencia.
Along with the many great wines of the region around the city of Valencia, some drinks to look out for include agua de Valencia and orgeat.
Orgeat, or horchata as it is also known, is a sweet syrup made of almonds, sugar and rose water or orange-flower water. It is often used in cool refreshments or in cocktails. Agua de Valencia is simply Bucks fizz using freshly-squeezed oranges and cava.
The region of Valencia – around the city – has over 75,000 hectares of vineyards so the choice of wines is great.
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Eating & Drinking
