F1 special in Valencia: Paella and horchata

We have talked about restaurants, shops ... now we have to talk about topics; paella and horchata, a gastronomy summarized in two words. I'm not going to insist or force anyone to try both, as Paula Vázquez usually or used to do with every international guest of Fame. «Try the paella! Try the paella!She screamed in what she presumed to call English.

I'm not a fan of either of the two things (or of Paula Vázquez, of course), but I am of know the typical gastronomy of each place that I visit, which would say that it is worth eating a good rice and drinking a very fresh horchata. There are many rice and horchaterias, of course, but let's not think that the whole mountain is oregano.

The most typical and traditional rice shops in the city I would say are La Marcelina and La Pepica, both located on the Paseo de Neptuno on the Arenas beach (in the photo) along with many other restaurants such as La Rosa or L'Estimat, also quite typical. And it is that, put to follow with topics, the best place to eat a paella is the beach. The most innovative can turn to places like tapelia with its varied rice dishes, all of them more than acceptable.

Among all these typical rice dishes, I prefer La Marcelina, although in any of them you can find a good rice. But hey, based on the fact that the Valencian paella with chicken, rabbit and vegetables does not make me special, I like La Marcelina for everything that is not the typical paella, especially I would highlight the Marcelina rice, which is very similar to arroz a banda. Also, their starters are not bad at all; chopitos, clóchinas, bonito with standard ... and many more. And to finish, the best is the Marcelina orange, to continue with typical products.

The problem with La Marcelina and most of the restaurants in the Arenas area is that they are huge ... and they fill up, which is the cause of the mess basically caused because here in Valencia people are very loud, it's quite unpleasant, at least for me. That is why it is better to resort to the terrace. And above all, better to book before going as an improvisation.

Having said the institutional, now comes the homegrown. To me, as I said three lines above, Eating with people talking loudly in the background bothers me a lotBesides, I don't like the typical Valencian decoration too much. You know, paintings that recall Sorolla and barracks everywhere. With which, my proposal is the restaurant L'Eriço, also on the Paseo de Neptuno.

In L'Eriço the furniture and decoration in general is quite far from the decoration typical of this type of restaurant. Rather, it pulls more towards a slight minimalism ... with really comfortable chairs, which is quite appreciated. In addition, its size is much smaller than that of La Marcelina for example, and if you add to that that the tables are much more dispersed, the atmosphere in much more pleasant. Delicious chicken or seafood paella, and somewhat more modern starters although without neglecting the classics, I would highlight the "patatas bravas", for example.

Having said the same about paella, let's move on to horchata. If you ask any Valencian where to drink a good horchata automatically and without letting you finish, the question will tell you Alboraya. Paula Vázquez I suppose she would say “go to Alboraya! Go to Alboraya! » making fuss. The point is that Alboraya is not a giant horchateríaIt is a simple town north of the city about 10 minutes by car that is full of horchaterias.

The most famous horchaterias in Alboraya I would say are Panach and Daniel. Like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, both are as loved as they are hated. I have only been to Daniel mainly because it is the first one that you meet when driving, and it is just after entering the town, specifically in the Horchata Avenue. It is not a joke.

It is huge and in summer it gets bursting with people. The horchata, although it is not the best I have tasted, is cold and completes its function, although more than the horchata itself what stands out about Daniel is the pastries. In this regard, I must take off my hat, I have not been in any horchateria that equals this.

Now, although it is relatively close, going out of the city to drink a glass of horchata may not pay off too much. Although surely it compensates more than indigestible with any dirty water from a street stall, yes. That is why I propose an alternative to Daniel without leaving the city, and above with a much better horchata.

Aim; Venice Honeycomb, on Calle de la Reina 71, in the Cabanyal area, near the aforementioned restaurants. It is not excessively large, but the horchata is the best I've ever had, without a doubt. The pastries offer is not close to Daniel's, but the horchata is infinitely better. Well, their artisan fartons are also noteworthy. Their artisan ice cream They are also more than remarkable.