Traditional cuisine

Traditional cuisine is subtly and uniquely flavoured with local meats and products. Land of special orange groves, its gastronomy is based on seafood, fruit and vegetables. Though the world famous Paella dominates the culinary scene, there are many other traditional dishes which are just as delicious, such as Arroz a banda (rice and fish, but both of them are cooked separately), Arroz negro (rice with black squid ink), All i pebre (a garlic and pepper sauce which is often eaten with eel) and Fideuà (made with noodles instead of rice)

Haute Cuisine

Valencia also offers Michelin-starred restaurants, consolidating its position among the top in the world of haute-cuisine. The veteran Sucursal (www.restaurantelasucursal.com) and the recently awarded Riff (www.restaurante-riff.com) have won themselves the gastronomy Oscar.

Not only do they offer the most traditional dishes but also a wide range of modern, innovative and excellent cuisine.  This fusion of tradition and modernity can be found in more than 80 restaurants in Valencia. One of them, El Alto de Colón (www.grupoelalto.com) has become a reference for the Valencian cuisine. Its head chef, Quique Barella, recovers and updates tradtional dishes to create innovative cuisine that has led him to be finalist for the Rising star Chef Awards 2008 of Spain.

Agua de Valencia & Horchata

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are also a highly developed speciality of Valencia; bars pride themselves on their own special cocktails. The star drink is the “Agua de Valencia” made from a base of champagne, orange juice, vodka and gin. In general, it is served in jugs of various sizes and is drunk in a broad cocktail glass.

The Valencian refresher of choice is the Horchata de Chufa, the name given to the drink that is made from the chufa or tigernut tuber. This drink could find an English equivalent in almond milk or other vegetable type drinks. There are a number of ‘horchaterías’ in Valencia, the most famous of which is opposite the Iglesia y Torre de Santa Catalina in the corner of Plaza de la Reina.

Wines

Valencia is also land of excellent wines. Reds, rosés and whites including famed dessert wines made from a variety of grapes are grown in four distinct subzones, each one with its own wine-making traditions, Alto Turia, Clariano, Valentino and Muscat, all of them of high quality with official denomination of origin.

The pleasant Mediterranean climate gives rise to highly-appreciated winemaking which production is exported throughout Europe. These quality wines enjoy increasing recognition, and combine well with recipes from the Land of Valencia.