FOOD

Spanish rice is the basis for many classic Valencian dishes. The famous Paella is a typical Valencian dish. It is typically meat based with rabbit or chicken and greens. In coastal villages it is common to cook a seafood paella. The paella is traditionally cooked over a wood fire using a flat shallow dish. Other rice based dishes include arroz al horno, arroz a banda with fish and shellfish and arroz caldosa. The rice dishes are traditionally served with allioli a traditional side made with olive oil and garlic.

'Gazpacho', a cold soup of bread, tomatoes, garlic, salt, vinegar and oil, 'Olla churra', made from pieces of pork and black pudding, 'Hervido' made with beans and potato, 'Chorizo' which is a spiced pork sausage and a porridge called 'Gachas' are popular dished in Valencia.

A traditional drink is the sweet 'horchata' made from tiger nut milk and almonds. Agua de Valencia is another drink made with orange juice mixed with Catalonian wine called Cava. Valencia has over 75,000 hectares of vineyards and produces several famous wines including Cava made in Requena.