Valencia is a city of Mediterranean soul, with a gastronomy that has its essence in the quality and variety of its fresh, local products, and in a large traditional and vanguard cuisine. The Mediterranean Sea, the Valencian orchard and the mountain ranges surrounding it produce rice, oranges, artichokes, tomatoes… and in general fruits, vegetables and fish so fresh that enrich any dish and raise the taste of the recipes of this land to the category of exquisite.
From the hand of great masters of the kitchen, Ricard Camarena, Quique Dacosta, Begoña Rodrigo, Miguel Ángel Mayor or Bernd Knöller, recognized with Michelin stars, it turns Valèncian gastronomy into one of the most appreciated in Spain.
If we talk about gastronomic places in the city, we must highlight the Central Market and the Colon Market, two jewels of Valencian modernism, which are culinary cathedrals, excellence and a pleasure for senses. No “foodie” should miss these visits.
Regarding the recipe book, in addition to being the cradle of one of the most international dishes, the traditional Valencian paella, in this area rice is cooked as nowhere else, with more than 40 varieties, such as “arroz a banda”, “del senyoret” or “al horno” (oven), paella “de marisco” (seafood) or “de rojos”, “arroz negro” (blac rice) or “arroces secos” (dried rise) with beans and artichokes or with cuttlefish or cauliflower, the list is endless. Also typical is the “suquet de peix” or “anguilas en all i pebre” (eels), the fideuà or salted fish with which to make typical dishes such as “esgarraet” or “titaina”. Desserts from the city’s Arab past, unique drinks such as “horchata” or the list of wines with Denomination of Origin complete this culinary heritage.
For those looking to immerse themselves even more into the Valencian gastronomy, it is possible thanks to activities that can only be lived in Valencia. Learning to cook the traditional Valencian paella, visiting the vineyards and wineries where the best local wine and cava is produced or making a bike route to know the Valencian vegetable gardens, the rice fields of the Albufera Natural Park, are just some of the proposals.
