INFOPAGES

kitchen and gastronomy

The Costa Blanca kitchen is known for a rich and wide variety of food. There are numerous specialities but one of the most important is fish and sea food as well as fresh vegetables containing a lot of vitamins. Rice is the favored side dish. There are about 100 different varieties of the most popular and internationally best known national dish "Paella". Mediterranian fish and seafood are caught daily by local fishermen in the mediterranian sea and mainly served grilled or fried. Different types of stew as well as freshly hunted meat of the countryside are known to be very delicious .

Desserts and sweet meals are offered in rich variaties. Most of them contain fruits and almonds and are often sweetened with honey.

A local speciality drink is the sweet "Horchata" which is mainly served cold or even frozen in the summer. Its major ingredients are milk and earth-almonds. A drink named "ague de Valencia" (water of Valencia) is a mixture of orange juice and sparkling wine and a typical drink for refreshment in the Costa Blanca. Famous wines of the rgion are Alto Turia, Valentino, Moscatel de Valencia and Clariano. They are all served in restaurants in the Costa Blanca region.

Spanish citizens eat very little for breakfast and enjoy some pieces of Tapa with a glass of wine or beer later before noon. Lunchtime is between 12am and 4pm, the meal is very rich. Dinner is like lunch and is served between 7pm and 12pm. Some taverns in the beach and harbour areas are open 24 hours. Other restaurants are closed during the winter because of the fewer numbers of visitors.