Gastronomy is in Dénia's DNA

Gastronomy is in Dénia's DNA

Many people say the delicious food and fine wines are among the many things they love about living in Spain. Obviously, the great weather and beautiful beaches are usually top of the list. And when you put all four together, that’s beyond joy. That’s why we always make sure we have free time to visit the D*NA Festival in Dénia. It’s a chance to sample the best regional produce and meet some of the best chefs in Spain while strolling along the Marineta Cassiana - one of Dénia’s most picturesque beaches.

What is the event ?

Organised by the Dénia Creative City of Gastronomy Foundation and curated by the three-star Michelin chef Quique Dacosta, this food festival celebrates the rich and diverse range of food and drink that make up the Mediterranean diet. It’s a feast for all the senses - the different aromas and colours as you wander from stall to stall plus (the best bit!) the sweet and savoury flavours as you sample the goodies.

This year’s event is being held on Saturday September 28 from 11.00 to 23.00 and Sunday September 29 from 11.00 to 20.00.

For anyone who loves the cookery programmes on the TV, the workshops being held throughout the two days are not to be missed. There’s a chance to pick up tips from José Manuel López, head chef of Dénia restaurant Peix & Brases; discover the world of ice cream with seasonal fruit (yum!) with Marco Miquel from Dénia´s Miquel Gelater ice cream parlour; see how to make fruit popsicles with nitrogen; learn different ways to enjoy olive oil; and find out about the Valencia and Alicante wine routes. And these are just a tiny morsel of the activities on offer.

You need to sign up for the workshops and, judging by previous years, they will fill up quickly.

Like all the best festivals, different spaces have been set up with their own specialist theme. If you want to find out more about the world of Spanish haute cuisine, head to the Aqualia area where influential chefs such as Rodrigo de la Calle, a pioneer of green cuisine, and Eneko Atxa, who runs the sustainable Azurmendi restaurant in Bilbao, will be paying their tributes to how gastronomy works in harmony with the natural environment.

The Universo Liquido space pays homage to Mediterranean liquid gold where you can explore the worlds of wine, olive oil, citrus fruits, vermouth and cocktails alongside experts in these fields.

The Cocina space is where you can see the rich range of local produce and ingredients from flavoursome spices through to lipsmackingly glorious sweets and ice creams.

There are so many things to see, eat and drink, we’re going to have to pace ourselves!

For a sneak preview of what you can expect, take a look at this promo video for the festival showing Dénia’s very own three-star Michelin chef Quique Dacosta. He has worked with local producers and artisans to create special recipes that sing the praises of the local countryside and using tableware made from the region’s soil.

For more information or to sign up for the workshops, visit the official website www.dnafestivaldenia.com

The festival attracts foodies in their thousands. If you’re driving, there’s a big free car park by Dénia marina and the festival is held just across the road from this car park. If you’re lucky (or have a parking angel), you may find parking in nearby streets especially if you look for a space a couple of blocks away from the seafront.

You’ll find a great choice of properties to buy or rent in Dénia from seafront apartments to exclusive villas with sea or mountain views, and traditional townhouses in the heart of historic Dénia.

Contact VillaMía if you’re interested in buying a property in Dénia, want to sell a property or looking for long-term rentals. Email info@villamia.net or call 96 579 4139