Valencia, the ultimate food lover’s paradise

The coastal city of Valencia in Spain is the ultimate food lover’s paradise

Nina Chestney

There’s something for everyone in the Spanish city of Valencia. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, there are several beaches, while the city itself is brimming with culture and beautiful architecture and not completely swamped &by tourists.

It is also a food lover’s paradise: restaurants fill the city’s streets and the markets are a destination in themselves. 

Other must-try foods in Valencia

FIDEUÀ: Fideuà is similar to paella, but made with very thin, straight noodles, called fideos. Seafood is added, and it’s also cooked in a seafood broth.

ALL I PEBRE: A melt-in-the-mouth dish of eel cooked in garlic and paprika sauce, accompanied by potato chunks.

CALABAZA ASADA: A popular snack of roasted pumpkin, sometimes served with caramel sauce and whipped cream.

COCA CHRISTINA: A local pastry which is a flat, wide Valencian cake made of eggs, sugar, almond &and lemon.

Central market &(El Mercado central)

Located in the old town, the central market is one of the biggest markets of fresh produce in Europe and is still where a lot of the city’s inhabitants buy their groceries. It is also the place to sample some fresh Valencian orange juice from one of the many greengrocers.

You can stop for a “horchata” here, which is a cold, sweet, milky drink made from tiger nuts. A classic breakfast drink, served with fartons (a pastry similar to “churros”) which are then dunked in.

Tapas

The old town is full of tapas joints. One of the best and cheapest is El Kiosko on Plaza Doctor Collado, not far from the central market. Order skewers of meat for a couple of euros at most or some “pintxos” — slices of bread with different toppings held together with &a toothpick.

In nearby Plaza de Reina, try the “Grandma’s meatballs” and Morcilla de Burgos — a black pudding made with rice — at La Taverna La Reina.

In the same square is 100 Montaditos, serving pintxos and one of the cheapest places to grab a bite to eat. 

Paella

Valencia is the city which gave paella to the world. The city’s namesake, paella Valenciana consists of rice, green beans, chicken and rabbit, butter beans and snails. Other paellas available include seafood paella and &mixed paella.

It is traditionally eaten at lunch but is available in some places for dinner. One of the best places to sample paella is La Pepica restaurant at the beach. Restaurant Levante in the city also specialises in it.

Buen Provecho!

For something different to eat, Maria Mandiles serves shared dishes with a twist — their quesadillas with blue cheese and leeks are particularly moreish. &As are the nachos with cheese and guacamole.

La pappardella, off Plaza de la Reina, does Italian pasta with a twist and opposite at Annaick (www.creperiebretonne.com) you can sample savoury or sweet Breton crepes.

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