Local dishes in Valencia

What do we think about when we think of Valencia? Some would mention the city's icons, like the Miguelete, the Cathedral or the new City of the Arts and Sciences. Others would mention the joy of the people during the Fallas or the sunny beaches of the city's coast. Others still would mention the city's flavourful cuisine. In fact, a recent study showed that Valencian cuisine is currently one of the strongest draws for tourists. But what are the secrets of this culinary tradition that fascinates the whole world?





Halfway between the mountains and the sea, Valencia is a land graced by the treasures of its fertile soil, the abundance of its seas and the sunny climate that fosters the growth of delicious fruits. From the lowliest cook to the Valencian culinary purist, everyone agrees that the secret of the city's cuisine lies in the quality of the ingredients used to make it: a sublime olive oil, prime cuts of meat, fresh seafood, different types of rice to complement any dish and freshly picked vegetables.

These flavours take us to the origins of Valencian cuisine, which has roots harking back to the Romans, Greeks and Arabs that once occupied the territory. However, it was also influenced by the rural context in which the first Valencian rice was prepared with the meat that was on hand, depending on whether the people lived on the seashore or inland.





If you type "paella" into a search engine, you will see how popular it is, with more than eight million search results on some services. There are an infinite number of recipes and methods for preparing the celebrated dish, as well as heated discussions as to its most authentic form. However, any self-respecting paella must contain rice, saffron, cayenne pepper, olive oil, chicken or rabbit and a few gifts from the garden, like green beans and white beans. The list goes on: rosemary, tomato, prawns, clams, squid, artichokes, lemon...until the dish is converted into true "neo-paella," adapted to the personality of individual chefs or to local tastes.





Paella is largely a community event, and for Valencians, it is a symbol of belonging to their culture. But what is the secret to good paella? Some say that the secret is in the stock (prepared the day before), while others says that it's the cooking temperature, the hardness of the local water, the correct proportions between the ingredients, the amount of time it stands, the quality of the rice and the list goes on and on. One thing they agree on is that paella tastes better when shared with friends or family to celebrate the joy of being together.





Most of the hotels in Valencia include paella on their menu, but there are also restaurants specialising in the dish, especially in Valencia. So, the next logical question is: which restaurant serves the best paella in the world? Looking for the answer to that question is a good excuse to take a culinary tour through Spain. Otherwise, you can take a look at the results of the unique "paella contests" that take place in various parts of the world.





Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.