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Food and Drink
An important part of your stay will be the food,
wine and beer on offer in the area. The village has two bar/restaurants.
Restaurante Casa Patricio,
Calle de Arriba, nº 37. This has won many awards for it's cuisine and is to be recommended.
Bar Casa Mari (reataurant
Pico) has a large restaurant and bar and a balcony with a spectacular
view over the Guadalest valley. Friendy service.
The Dishes
The first word that comes to mind when talking
about Valencian gastronomy is RICE , which can
be cooked in many ways. What can we tell you
that you don't know about Paella? This Valencian dish is known
and loved all over the world, and has even become a national
symbol. Although its popularity has reached into national and
international kitchens, we can promise you that only here in
Valencia will you taste the authentic paella made
in the traditional way.
We mustn't forget to mention other rice temptations
such as the marine " Arroz de Mariscos " (made
with sea fruits), the dark "Arroz Negro" made
with squid and it's ink, the tasty "Arroz a banda" whose
name was given to it due to the fact that the rice is separated
from the fish after , the wintry "Arroz Caldoso",
good old "Arroz al Horno" (Oven cooked rice)
whose stock could be made up of multiple tastes such as those
derived from black pudding, tomato, potato, pork amongst other
possible ingredients... Other traditional dishes include "fideua" which
substitutes rice for fine macaroni-like pasta cooked in seafood
stock or "all i pebre" made from eels from
the "Albufera" freshwater
lake.
How could we not mention the high quality
of Valencian fruits especially its oranges with are of unparalleled
quality. In Valencia you will find and extensive range of sweets,
the star being "arnadí" (a sweet made from pumpkin),
sweet potato pies, sweet bread, aniseed shortbread, and the
famous horchata with "fartons",
a type of sponge which is dipped into drinks. Last but not
least you are advised to order "Agua de Valencia" (Valencian
Water), a very agreeable cocktail made from freshly squeezed
orange juice and Cava.
| Valencian Paella |
Made with chicken, rabbit, green vegetables
and white snails (baquetes) |
| Arroz al Horno |
Baked rice |
| El Tombet |
Lamb stew with white snails (baquetes) |
| Squid a la romana |
Squid fried in flour and egg |
| Arros a Banda |
A paella based on fish |
| Arros Negre |
A paella with squid in inky sauce |
| Paella de Verduras |
A paella with vegetables |
| Arros a Forn |
A paella prepared in the oven |
| Fideua |
Thin noodles, shellfish and fish |
| Alli Pebre |
A sauce made with garlic and pepper which normally
accompanies eel |
| El Gazapacho |
Prepared with rabbit, partridge
and "torte
de pastor" (Shepard's pie) |
| Arroz con Costra |
Rice with chicken, rabbit, sausages, black
pudding, chickpeas, spices and on top meatballs made of pork
and bread crumbs |
| Cocido de Pelotas |
A stew whose main ingrediant is minced meat
wrapped in cabbage leaves |
| Los Bajoques Farcides |
Peppers stuffed with rice, pork, potatoes and
beans |
| La Pericana |
Cod, olive oil, dry peppers and garlic |
| El pato a la naranja |
Duck and orange
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| Valencia is
most famous for its Paella dishes. They have many
different varieties. |
It's great fun to try and cook for yourself of
course, easy an easy dish to do, the classic Valencian Paella
Wine
Considering that Alicante
is such an important tourist area, it's strange that its wines
are so little known. These days you can find a great variety
of wines on Alicantine territory; from a fruity white Riesling
of Alsace inspiration to an oak-matured Cabernet, not to mention
one of the best Moscatels in Spain and an original red called
Fondillón
made from sun-dried Monastrell grapes.
T he Fondillón, which
was lost but has been revived by some wine-grower's sense of
nostalgia, is Alicante's rancio wine, traditionally made by
drying the grapes in the sun on wattle screens. it has a high
alcohol content and is ideal as a dessert wine. A legendary
aromatic wine whose vines used to occupy the lands closest
to the sea.
Eating
out in Benidorm. A night out in Benidorm is a must for
every visitor to the Costa Blanca.
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