Eat Your Way Around Torrevieja

Torrevieja’s gastronomy is famous for its freshness, quality and diversity, which are reflected in its thriving hotel and catering sector. It relies on Mediterranean cooking methods, and takes advantage of the close proximity to the sea, often using fish and seafood as the core ingredients, with the addition of the basic trilogy “wheat, oil, wine”- a formula reported to be one of the healthiest in the world! In the preparation of Spanish meals, most will use olive oil as their principal source of vegetable fat, which is a tradition that originated through Arabic influence and proved fruitful due to the abundance of olive trees growing locally. To this, Spanish cooking will typically add cheese and yogurt; fish, meat and eggs; rice, pulses, garlic and herbs; and various types of fruits and vegetables, freshly harvested from the irrigated Vega Baja region or “market garden of Europe”.

 Meat and Fish

The climate in Torrevieja lends itself to open air cooking, and the locals love nothing more than throwing a selection of meats on a barbeque or open fire to produce an authentic char gilled platter. Pork is a very popular meat, which is typically served as chops, steaks or in a stew; as well as being used to produce a wide variety of sausages and cold meats, which are either cured or generously flavoured with herbs and spices. “Caldero” is a typical dish of Torrevieja, which is cheap and easy to prepare, with basic ingredients comprising of rock fish, such as Yellow Eye Rockfish, Grouper and “Morralla” (small fish), combined with rice and good quality fish stock. Abundant in the waters off the Costa Blanca, these fish species eat specific foods, giving them a very distinctive taste that is retained in their stock, resulting in the delicious rice dish. Meat alternatives are also popular and you will find them both served with crusty bread, in a number of eateries throughout the city. In spite of the mild climate, Torrevejenses really enjoy a hearty stew, with recipes such as “Olla Churra” which combines various meats, vegetables, legumes, boiled bones, and occasionally rice or potatoes; and “Cocido con Pelotas”, which is a stock liquid with meatballs added being prepared and eaten in most households and restaurants.

Rice and Bread

Rice is of course another firm favourite and part of the staple diet, with most good restaurants serving freshly prepared Paella Valenciana, which is heated over a wood fire and combines rice, chicken, rabbit, snail, tomatoes, bajoqueta (green beans) and garrofón (butter beans), with olive oil, salt, saffron, red pepper and water. It is quite a dry rice dish, containing no real sauce although brimming with flavour, and usually served with a squeeze of lemon and plenty of bread and alioli. Other popular rice dishes which you can expect to find in Torrevieja include “Arroz al horno” (oven-baked rice), “Arroz a banda” (rice with seafood), “Arroz negro” (black rice with squid in inky sauce) and “Arroz y costra” (rice cooked with sausage and beaten eggs then baked in the oven). The Alicante province is also famous for its pizza-like turnovers called “empanadas” or “empanadillas”, which also form part of Torrevieja’s select gastronomic lineup. These might be folded over like a pasty and stuffed with different meats, tuna fish or vegetables; or served flat and covered with dried meats, sausages or salted and dried fish, to create a delicious pizza creation.

International Flavours

With literally hundreds of bars and restaurants to choose from, it is fairly easy to eat and drink your way around Torrevieja; and with its international footprint now having a huge impact on the local cuisine, you can expect to sample dishes from around the world here too. There are a plethora of extremely good Chinese, Cantonese, Thai, Indian and Japanese Sushi restaurants scattered around the city, which normally offer a Menu of the Day, and set menus for up to five diners, at incredibly good value for money. If you are a fan of Mexican cuisine, the city has various popular venues to choose from, such as “El Charro Negro” located in the centre, close to the fountains. If you want to go Greek, or eat Italian, Turkish, Russian, Moroccan, Korean, Scandinavian, Austrian, Dutch, French, German, Belgian, Jamaican or dishes from a multitude of other lands, you won’t have to look far to find something to satisfy your craving. And if you are missing your home comforts, you will be spoiled for choice by the number of British and Irish Restaurants serving all of your favourite dishes from back home, from a full cooked breakfast to traditional Sunday lunch.

Dining Out Spanish Style

As you are in Spain, it would be rude not to sample some authentic local cuisine, and you certainly will not be disappointed with what Torrevieja has to offer, with Mediterranean cooking being some of the finest in the world! There are numerous excellent Spanish eateries here to cater for every appetite, budget and occasion, from bustling tapas bars to fine dining restaurants. The city is incredibly proud of its tapas, which are guaranteed to provide a real taste of Spanish culture, fighting back against the international invasion of pizzas and kebabs! Heading out for tapas is an important part of Spanish culture, and usually a casual arrangement between friends rather than a planned night out. It is an ideal opportunity for those who are not so familiar with Spanish cuisine to sample a selection of small dishes which you may wish to order as a main meal in the future. Those with smaller appetites, such as children and elderly people may also prefer to snack on a few tapas rather than be faced with a large meal. If you edge away from the seafront, you will find a plethora of great venues to choose from, usually serving a tapa and caña (small beer) for around €1.50. Following Spanish custom, there are also certain bars that will automatically give you a free tapa with every drink, although this ritual is less common these days.

Tapas Route

It is difficult to pick a good tapas bar as there are so many, but a useful tip is to follow the locals and opt for one which is always bustling with Spaniards!  The Town Hall has helped to highlight and promote a selection of the best, through its popular “Ruta de la Tapa” contest, which celebrated its fourteenth edition last month. The initiative takes place twice per year, usually in April and November, inviting local bars to create four signature tapas which are available to sample from Thursday through Sunday during two given time periods, for two consecutive weeks. The nibbles must be available with a drink, with prices starting at a very reasonable €2.00. Tapas Route participants are given a results card where they can record where they went and vote for their favourite venue, giving them as well as the bar owner the opportunity to scoop a very nice cash prize! This is an exciting opportunity for visitors and residents of Torrevieja to discover some new locations, and sample a selection of authentic Spanish foods, which as many as 75 bars participated in during one year, offering clients a combined choice of over 300 different tapas!

Top Tapas Venues

A Place in Spain has compiled a list of some of our favourite tapas bars and restaurants to whet the appetite ahead of the next tapas route contest.

Catalina II

In a prime location, close to the fountains and cultural casino of Torrevieja, Catalina II has been owned by the same family since 1942. Its success can be attributed to the friendly service, great value for money and delicious cuisine. Along side of a full A La Carte menu and affordable Menu of the Day, the restaurant serves a wide selection of tapas, which are an ideal choice for a light snack, or several plates will provide a satisfying meal to share. Seafood lovers will be quite spoiled for choice, with offerings of boquerones (anchovies), calamari (squid rings), salmon, anchovies, prawns and mussels, to name but a few. If you are not too sure what you fancy, this is a great place to pick and mix, maybe opting for a couple of meat dishes such as magra (pork in tomato sauce) and chorizo, along with sardines or squid, a salad such as Russian or Murcian salad, all served with plenty of bread and ali oli. Enjoy!

Tasca Nueva Bahia

Boasting a central location, Tasca Nueva Bahia has been awarded several prizes during the tapas route contest, so you can expect to find something special here! It has an extensive tapas list, serving fish, shellfish, meat, cheese and sausage dishes, as well as a tempting sweet selection. Again, it is the perfect venue for sharing a selection of dishes, with recommendations including the prawn or ham croquettes, black pudding, garlic prawns, grilled cuttle fish and Serrano ham.

Bar Taperia Loz Zamoranos

Situated on the Paseo Libertad, this friendly tapas bar offers great quality, value and service. The menu is available in English, which is a huge help as it can be difficult to know what you are ordering if you are not too confident with the language, particularly where the obscure tapas combinations are concerned! Each dish is available as a small taster, or a larger dish, “racion”, and there is something available to suit every palate, from the delicious pinxcos (toasted mini baguettes with various toppings) to sirloin steak!

El Rincon de las Jarras

This is another centrally located bar, serving a selection of temping tapas at very competitive prices. The bar is well known locally and tends to be busy at all times of the day, as people nip in for a drink and nibble as they go about their business. The tapas are all displayed in chillers across the bar so you can see what you are getting before you order, but if you are unsure then the staff is always happy to give you a brief description and recommendation if required. If you are feeling spoiled for choice, El Rincon is THE place to go to sample some of the best hams and meatballs in town; and if that doesn’t help then order it anyway, giving yourself the perfect excuse to come back and try something else soon! ¡Buen provecho!