DINNER CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE SNAKE (Chinese New Year)

The Confucius Institute based in Valencia, Faculty of Philology, Translation and Communication of Valencia (Avenida Blasco Ibañez, 32) celebrates "The Chinese New Year" or "Spring Festival" (as is known in China) with various festive  and cultural events.

Another of the festive events is the traditional Chinese New Year dinner.
The Confucius Institute sells tickets (at the University of philology) for a traditional dinner at a price of 20 euros, dinner will be held at the Asian restaurant "Gran Rong Hua" in the town of Manises.

The dinner will be held on Saturday February 9 at 21 am

image taken fron the Confucius Institute website

VALENCIA CUINA OBERTA NOVEMBER 9-18

For a little over a week a total of 56 restaurants of Valencia among which are some of the best, offer the opportunity to book their exclusive menus at a price of 20 Euros and 30 Euros for dinner.
The booking is made online at the Web (and paid), with the option to cancel 24 hours in advance without charge and within those 24 hours for 50% of the price.

From the list of restaurants that appears there are some very prestigious in which it is advisable to book   now to take place.

Bon Profit!

poster taken from facebook

VALENCIA OPEN 500 DE TENIS October 20-28 2012

From this Saturday 20 to Sunday October 28 held at the Agora building (in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia) Valencia Open 500 the tenth.
The matches begin each day at 11 AM, (having 25-26 night session at 20 am and on the 27th at 18 pm)
As prices vary widely depending on the area or if bonus, here's the link.
The tournament is in favor of UNICEF.
It also has the Fun Park, an entertainment area, shopping and dining, (also performed activities and workshops for children) in free admission to the public. Located in the enclosure of the City of Arts and Sciences.

Curiously enough, it is not recommended for people suffering from vertigo climbing into the stands, as the Agora was not designed for this type of event and have a very sharp slope.

poster from the valencia open 500 taken from internet

TENNIS VALENCIA OPEN 500 (hystory)

The ATP tennis tournament in Valencia, was first held in 1995 (the 1996-97 moved to Marbella, and was held in Mallorca from 1998 to 2002), until 2008 its category was of ATP International Series and was played in clay at the Valencia Tennis Club ..
By restructuring the schedule in 2009 became ATP Open  500 and change to hard court be performing at The Agora in Valencia (in the City of Arts and Sciences).

A distinguishing feature of the Valencia Open 500 is the creation of FUN PARK, a shopping, entertainment and dining free entry to all the public (usually an area generally accessible only to those who have entry), located in the enclosure of the city ​​of Arts and Sciences.

Picture from the Valencia Open 500 in the Ägora building taken from Wikipedia 

TAPAS ROUTE IN CEDRO AREA

The area cedro, is a party zone especially university atmosphere.
Now also have aimed to fashion to give your beer a tapa (to win back customers, now scarce because of the crisis).
I have to admit that I have not gone to taste them, but from what I've seen on facebook, look very nice.

Tapa + beer 2 Euros.

logo taken from facebook

ALBORAYA FOOD FAIR ALBORAYA 6-7 OCTOBER

Unfortunately I just heard of this, the fair was scheduled for last week but was passed by weather to this weekend.

Here is its facebook link.

The schedule of the fair is up to 22 hours. And you can taste various products made from chufa (horchata, nougat, beer, oil, etc.).

The fair is located on the esplanade in front of the metro stop Peris Arago, in Alboraya.

picture taken from its facebook

FOOD TRAIL Tapas & Cocktail in Canovas Area from September 13 to october 14

30 locations Canovas zone between pubs, restaurants and others. Offered  tapa  + wine (or beer) or 1 cocktail (in pubs) for 3 Euros. Also they give you a passport, where with the stamp of 5 different local they give you a card for the area (which will serve for future promotions, also you enter into a drawing for a cruise for 2 people during 7 nights (the winner will be announced October 18) ..
Currently the website advertising does not work, have another malfunctioning web. There is no information about for what serve the card but the promotion of the tapa and caña is not bad.

poster taken from they're website

FIRA DE JULIOL (ACTS day 7)

18:30 Exhibition of craftsmen and merchants, THE FORGE OF VULCAN, in the garden of Ayora to 00 hours.

Fair child 19 hours (open until 21 pm) in the Parque del Oeste next to the Avenida del Cid (number 14 on the map).

21 hours (at 20:30 the doors open)
21:15 concert, CYAN from Barcelona this group play an intermediate style between Independent and Mainstream music.
At 22:15 A concert by AMARAL, three years after their last visit to Valencia they visit us again (Amaral is a band from Zaragoza, they play Pop , Rock, Folk and Rock music).

Admission to the concert costs 25 euros (30 at the door). Children under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian.

21:30 pm En el parque del Oeste will be tasting a giant omelette for attendees.

22 hours reselection of the Courts of Honor Falleras in several areas of Valencia (sorry, there are many areas and is a subject that bores me, so I will not mention anything more).

22:30 Verbena for old people with the Orchestra Brillantina in the Parque del Oeste.

 

 

Amaral promotional picture taken from internet

 

 

 

map of the Fira de Juliol events

Nits 22:30 de Cant d'Estil (Nights of Singing Style) in the celebrations of the "Associació El Clau" in Cañete Street (number 12 on the map).

Verbena 23 hours with the AVATAR Orchestra (this orchestra is out of the usual verbenas of pasodoble and pachanga, combining Rock, Ska, and different musical styles) in the plaza Musico Lopez Chavarri (in the Barrio del Carmen, near the Plaza del Tossal, number 7 on map).

 

there are more links in the post in Spanish

 

 

 

INTERESTING PLACES TO EAT PAELLA 4:

La Marcelina:

It is also an interesting option to go to the beginning of the Paseo de Neptuno in Playa de las Arenas. Where there is a restaurants in for over 100 years, called La Marcelina  and specializing in rice dishes and seafood. (usually fresh fish of the day) restaurants next door are not bad but these are one of the most highly recommended. Those which I don't recommend (by several bad experiences, are those that are beyond the middle of the paseo maritimo).
It's situated right on the beach, have a sunroom, the kitchen is open and you can see what they are  preparing and how is cooked. The decoration is typical Valencian tiles and various objects from the garden of Valencia. In general the waiters are friendly and usually speak English, but in days of hard work, of course not always friendly. This is a more expensive option, the meal costs from 25 euros per person (usually well paid, but if you have not booked and there are many people, you risk having lower quality), and although you can eat well, it is advisable book on food 11 am to reserve a meal, as in summer are always full, thanks to the good area and their fame. In the area, it is interesting to take a walk around Port America's Cup, for the viewpoint of the breakwatter that leads to the lighthouse.  From there you can see on a clear day the Gulf of Valencia's form, and then walk along the dock (to see the "precious" and "cheap" abandoned buildings), through which also passes the Valencia's Street Circuit Formula 1. and if you want to have a counterpoint, you can stroll through the streets of the old fishing district of El Cabañal and it's municipal market. To see how the city of Valencia's has allowed the low houses of fishermen spoil with it's bad policy of building large projects only empty and very modernist, without caring for the historical heritage.

You can also call me to make any route for this and other areas and we try to convince my mother, who is the best cook paella in the world to prepare us a paella.
 NOTE: On the parks and sites I mentioned, I will publish specific post

picture of the terrace facing to the sea made by me

INTERESTING PLACES TO EAT PAELLA 3:

La Pepica :

It is also an interesting option to go to the beginning of the Paseo de Neptuno in Playa de las Arenas. Where there is a restaurants in for over 100 years, called The Pepica  and specializing in rice dishes and seafood. (usually fresh fish of the day) restaurants next door are not bad but these are one of the most highly recommended. Those which I don't recommend (by several bad experiences, are those that are beyond the middle of the paseo maritimo).
It's situated right on the beach, have a sunroom, the kitchen is open and you can see what they are  preparing and how is cooked. The decoration is typical Valencian tiles and various objects from the garden of Valencia. In general the waiters are friendly and usually speak English, but in days of hard work, of course not always friendly. This is a more expensive option, the meal costs from 25 euros per person (usually well paid, but if you have not booked and there are many people, you risk having lower quality), and although you can eat well, it is advisable book on food 11 am to reserve a meal, as in summer are always full, thanks to the good area and their fame. In the area, it is interesting to take a walk around Port America's Cup, for the viewpoint of the breakwatter that leads to the lighthouse.  From there you can see on a clear day the Gulf of Valencia's form, and then walk along the dock (to see the "precious" and "cheap" abandoned buildings), through which also passes the Valencia's Street Circuit Formula 1. and if you want to have a counterpoint, you can stroll through the streets of the old fishing district of El Cabañal and it's municipal market. To see how the city of Valencia's has allowed the low houses of fishermen spoil with it's bad policy of building large projects only empty and very modernist, without caring for the historical heritage.

You can also call me to make any route for this and other areas and we try to convince my mother, who is the best cook paella in the world to prepare us a paella.
 NOTE: On the parks and sites I mentioned, I will publish specific post.

picture of the terrace facing to the sea made by me

INTERESTING PLACES TO EAT PAELLA 2:

 Free Buffet NECO
 Usually the tourists visiting Valencia, want to eat paella, typical Valencian dish. It's a fully understandable thing, but like not all Italians know how to make fresh pasta and pizza, not all Asians knows karate. Not all  knows Valencians paella. for this reason is a mistake to go to the first bar or restaurant that you find to eat paellabecause usually is not too good, or is pre-cooked and are often be expensive.
 First of all, I do not recommend too much eating paella in the area around the town hall, because it is very touristy area, which is very expensive price, and quality is no big deal (plus many have individual pre-cooked paella, which I hate).
Normally in Spain, paella is not eaten at night, because it is more indigestible. Only done in festivals (where you will go to bed late).
A cheap and surprisingly so good, is the Neco buffet, where you can weekday lunch or dinner for 9.95 euro (plus drink), and on weekends for 13 euro (plus drink). It is a buffet of Mediterranean food (although I don't usually trust in these sites), where  tapas, paella and others have a good quality. Also you only worry of serving the food, because the waiters removed the dirty dishes and they bring you the drinks. It is recommendable to go during the week because on weekends there is usually a long queue There is also the option of taking away food to go from 3 euros.
I know the one in El Saler Mall, opposite the museum of science (on the south side). It is an ideal place to finish a walking route whithin theTuria's the river bed . Or you can ask for food to takeaway (if you're not going to take advantage of the buffet, or you want to spend less, you may eat in the park within the river)
 I've seen they have two more:
Calle Pascual y Genis 9 in Valencia (two blocks behind the post office in the Town Hall Square). Taking the food to takeaway here, depending on what you like walking, the most peaceful sites are:
 A little over a kilometer is the church of St. Augustine, which has a mini park behind with a drinking fountain. 300 meters ahead is the  Hospital's Library Park, where you have more space (although currently is fenced by half  for be under construction) in the area also has drinking fountain
 Other choice a little shorter, it can be to follow the Calle Pintor Sorolla to the Parterre's park or to the Glorieta 's park. Although the traffic surrounds them are pretty calm.
 And there's another on the street Rambla del Saler 16, (which Google Maps tells me it is in the Saler´s natural park, but I can't  locate where is exactly).

You can also call me to make a route for this and other areas and try to convince my mother (who is the greatest cook paella in the world) to cook a paella
 NOTE: On the parks and sites I mentioned, I will publish specific post.

picture from de restaurant sited on El Saler mall made by me

INTERESTING PLACES TO EAT PAELLA 1:

Takeaway meals

In Valencia there are many Takeaway meals and many of them quite improved, this is one where I go occasionally want a paella when I get together with friends, or if I'm in the area, I prefer to order something there and eat in a park, because it is cheaper, better, and I prefer to relax in a park than in a bar.
The site is a local takeaway and the sign reads: tipiques PAELLES VALENCIANES (typical Valencian paella in Valencian), the real name of the place is CASA MANUEL VElARTE. It is situated in Peris y Valero Avenue approximately the number 170 (there are three doors in succession, the first is a dining room, the second I'm not sure what it's,  and the third is the takeaway) (this avenue goes from the bridge west of the park Gulliver). It is a cheap option and you can eat for 6 euros more or less per person. You can take a portion, or order a paella (usually they are delicious) on request if you are several people (reserving in advance), to carry it wherever you want and then you restore (ask for a bond in the pan). You can take it to the bed of the River Turia and eat a picnic there or if you have a car, I usually go to the picnic tables on the beach of Saler Natural Park (soon I will make posts talking about the Saler and the Albufera).
There are two ways to cook a good Paella, with gas or firewood when you learn to do it with firewood (because it is difficult to control the fire) (and here usually make it with firewood). noticed a big difference, because the firewood gives a lot more flavor to the paella. The precooked (which I hate) are made in the oven, and are not too good flavor, is a pretty picture, but nothing else (besides as I said I hate convenience foods and frozen foods).

picture of the front made by me