Honors for Alicante, a city located in the Valencian Community, that has been crowned Spain’s Gastronomic Capital for 2025, a title that celebrates the city’s rich culinary heritage and its innovative contributions to the country’s gastronomy, according to the jury. Alicante will follow the steps of Oviedo, in Asturias, that held the title during 2024.
Alicante, the City of Rice
Rice takes center stage in Alicante’s culinary offerings, celebrated in a wide variety of dishes such as arroz a banda, baked rice, or creamy and soupy rice dishes. This versatile grain reflects the region’s deep Mediterranean roots. The key to Alicante’s exquisite rice dishes lies in the use of high-quality local ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, azafrán (saffron), tomato, ñoras (dried peppers), and fresh seafood, vegetables, and meats. The secret ingredient, salmorreta, a flavorful paste made with garlic, parsley, and ñoras, elevates these recipes to another level.