Valencia on the menu in Paris: is this France’s next gastronomic tourist destination?

This week, the headquarters of Spain's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris hosted a presentation of Valencia and its province as a gastronomic tourist destination to the specialised press and professionals of the French tourism sector.

The event - organised by València Turisme and Visit València, under the Delicious València brand - was attended by the permanent ambassador of Spain to UNESCO, Andrés Perelló; the director of the Spanish Tourist Office in Paris, Mª José Gómez; the provincial Councillor for Tourism in Valencia, Jordi Mayor; and the Councillor for Tourism on the Valencia City Council, Emiliano García; as well as the director of the International Michelin Guide, Manuel Fabián, representatives of tourism and gastronomy from various Valencian businesses, tour operators and the French media.

The showcasing of Valencia as a gastronomic destination consisted of an introduction to the city and its province, followed by a tasting of traditional Valencian starters and rice dishes (Valencian paella and arroz del senyoret), prepared by chefs Francisco Alapont, from Peque Casa Nostra restaurant, and David Zorrilla, from Casa Salvador restaurant.

These traditional dishes were all paired with wines and cavas from the Utiel-Requena region and the menu was organised in collaboration with the Club de Artesanos del Arroz de Cullera, the Ruta del Vino de Utiel Requena and the Utiel-Requena Cava Association.

The provincial Councillor, Jordi Mayor, thanked the Permanent Delegation of Spain to UNESCO for their collaboration in organising this event, "with which we seek to give a live demonstration of just some of the marvels of Valencian gastronomy and promote Valencia as a unique, authentic tourist destination, with excellent products, great professionals and a unique culinary culture," he said.

"Today we want to inspire our French neighbours - of our most important markets - via their senses, so that they experience first-hand one of the key elements of a nearby destination, which is easy for them to get to and which is dedicated to promoting, enhancing and defending local produce as the principal exponent of a whole way of being and living," added the head of València Turisme.

For his part, Emiliano García, Councillor for Tourism on the Valencia City Council, highlighted "this golden moment in Valencian gastronomy and how proud we Valencians are of it. For us, our gastronomic heritage is one of the elements that define us as a people and around which our millennial history has been written".

"Our gastronomic heritage has now been complemented by the hard work, creativity and talent of our current top chefs, who have been fundamental in achieving the gastronomic revolution that our region is experiencing and for which the city has been worthy hosts of the Michelin Guide Spain & Portugal 2021 gala" added García.

"For this reason, as we prepare to celebrate the fourth edition of World Paella Day, we wanted to come here to France to highlight the value of one of the icons of world gastronomy, the Valencian paella", he concluded.

Taking advantage of their visit to Paris, the Valencian institutional representatives also made a visit to the French haute cuisine festival 'Taste of Paris', accompanied by Luis Valls, chef of El Poblet, a Michelin two-star restaurant in Valencia. One the Valencia stand, Valls gave a live masterclass, cooking a rice dish with guirra lamb, olive oil caviar and black olives.