The region of the Valencian community has a rich variety of vegetables fruit and seafood available all year round.  Spain is one of Europe's largest consumer of seafood, so it comes as little surprise that the national dish paella, originated in the region's capital Valencia. Paella can be a mix of different seafood, meat, vegetables and even chorizo sausage but the main ingredient is the special rice which is grown in the area.  Valencian rice is highly absorbent, allowing all the flavours of the paella to soak in.

PAELLA

Paella is traditionally made in a large shallow pan specifically designed for the purpose.  The ingredients are added and a rich seafood stock, the secret of a good paella, is spooned in continuously until the rice is cooked.  Most restaurants in the region have their own version of Paella.

Vegetables figure highly in the cuisine of the area but surprisingly are rarely found in the restaurants.  Large amounts of vegetables are used in home produced cooking.  Meat is plentiful, the pork filet is especially good and compared to the uk extremely inexpensive.  Lamb tends to be on the small side.  You don't see many sheep in the area, and the occasions when you do see them, they tend to be scrawny.  The best lamb comes from the north of Spain where the fields are green and lush.  The south of Spain is very dry and green fields are a rarity most of the year.

Fish and seafood is one of the main staples of the region.  The fish counters in the supermarkets are usually large with fantastic displays of  every conceivable type of sea creatures.  Alicante and Valencia fish markets are worth a visit, just to gawp at the amazing variety of the seafood on offer.   

LA TIENDA

La Tienda is an internet company specialising in everything related to Spanish cookery, including  ceramics, paella pans and just about everything you need to get  started with some delicious Spanish recipes. Everything is delivered straight to your door.  If you don't have any recipes La Tienda can supply Spanish cookery books full of authentic regional cooking. La Tienda stock some delectable olive oils including organic, extra virgin, unfiltered, hand processed olive oil from wild olive trees .  If you've ever tasted Iberian cured ham, you know how special the flavour is.  This delicacy is available in all the Spanish tapas bars and La Tienda will supply you with the real thing, even down to the special holder for a whole ham.  La Tienda is your one stop internet shop for everything you need to create the genuine Spanish experience.  If you want a present for someone special try La Tienda's gift page which includes Paella and Tapas kits presented in wooden boxes bearing the La Tienda logo.  Spain produces some of the best cheeses available and La Tienda has a great choice of all the famous names including Cabrales blue cheese from the mountains of Asturias, Ibores goat's milk cheese from the meadows of Extremadura, aged Mahon cow cheese from Menorca and many more.  Some of these cheeses are almost impossible to find outside the Spanish regions where they are produced, so here is a unique opportunity to find that exclusive cheese to round off your regional Spanish meal.  No dinner would be complete without a glass or two of a wine which marries perfectly with the food.  La Tienda offer Spanish regional wines from a variety of wineries.  There are wines from the famous vineyards of La Rioja, plus some of the more obscure regions which are not normally found outside Spain, to browse through La Tienda's tantalizing wine list, click here.