Local products, traditional dishes – culinary viands

Citrus fruits, olives, virgin olive oil, grapes, apples, medlars*, almonds, all imaginable spices and vegetables like courgettes, pepper, aubergines, tomatoes, potatoes, rice, onions, garlic, Turrón (Spanish Nougat), Chorizzo (pepper sausage), Churros, seafood (calamari, mussels, scampi …), Morunos (spicy meat skewers), roast venison, poultry …

*The small, orange coloured, furry, aromatic medlars (nisperos), rich in vitamins, are a flavour mixture of very fruity apricots, apples and prunes. They are not very well-known in Europe. The Costa Blanca represents their main growing area in Europe. Pick and taste a fruit of the Nispero tree in our own garden, which bears fruit in late spring.

Gazpacho: spicy, cold tomato soup with garlic, bread and cucumber: the perfect dish in summer!

Traditional rice dishes of the Comarca ‚Marina Alta’ are e.g. the Paella Valenciana, Arroz negro (black rice with the ink of calamari and artichokes), Arroz del señoret (Paella without fish bone, shells and bones) or – famous speciality of Dénia – Arroz a banda (prepared with fish broth, shrimps and mussels).

Tapas: small appetisers, served in bars together with the beverages. Tapas can be green or black olives, a little portion of peanuts, fried potatoes or a piece of tortilla (potato omelette), but also meat balls in hot sauce (Albondigas en salsa picante), mussels (Mejillones), sardines, fried calamari, cheese …

 

 

Horchata is a refreshing summer drink, made of ground Chufas (tigernuts from the wetlands of the province Valencia), water, sugar and some lemon juice - high in proteins, vitamins and minerals.

Turrón: originally, the Moors brought these sweet titbits to the Costa Blanca. Meanwhile Turrón has been produced (mainly in Alicante) and consumed with devotion for many centuries. Almonds, in whole or crushed, honey, nuts, sugar and egg yolk are mingled to result in the coveted Arab-type sweet sin. In the meantime, many different types are available, with candied fruit and chocolate, some of them rather soft, some of them being veritable tooth killers. Turrón is popular especially as Christmas kickshaw.

Churros: are cookies in the shape of a bar, fried in oil, served with coffee (for breakfast) or with hot chocolate (in the afternoon).