The Mercabañal gastronomic project
Valencia he was crying out for it. She was crying out to be pretty, but really pretty. For a few years, Valencians have been working on cultural, recreational and gastronomic to give the city the value it has long deserved.
For something it is the third largest city in Spain, behind Madrid and Barcelona. The ** Ice Factory , the San Valero Market or the Carmen Convent ** are some of the examples that have participated in this much-needed cultural and leisure awakening. And now a new card becomes part of the deck: merchandising.
In the number 225 Eugenia Viñes street , is located on the second line of the beach and between the quintessential summer club Akuarela and the avant-garde Ice Factory, this new space promises to become the new place to be in the city of Turia in the coming summer months.
A meeting place where everyone is welcome, where the delicious local gastronomy it is guaranteed and any time of day is the right time to visit it, either for the traditional esmorzaret or to watch the sun set over the rooftops of Cabanyal-Canyamelar, the quintessential maritime neighborhood.
The interior of the Valencian market
JOSÉ, HUGO AND NACHO: THE PERFECT TERNA
José Miralles, Hugo Cerverón and Nacho Medina are the architects of this project that has been playing louder and louder since its inception. opening last friday may 31 and that only in its first week of life had already welcomed a total of 3000 people . The experience in gastronomy of José Miralles and the love for surfing and the wanderlust spirit of both Nacho and Hugo, have been the most suitable triggers to create this gastronomic space.
A place where labels do not come into play and the key lies in wanting to have a good time surrounded by essence of one of the oldest neighborhoods in Valencia . "We knew each other and there came a time when I had a relationship with Hugo and with José another joined me, so the three of us stayed and in the end we decided to associate last year," says Nacho Medina, one of the creators of this culture initiative.
José, Hugo and Nacho, architects of the gastronomic palace
First they created a sports beach bar called Zorros del Mar, located on the beachfront of Patacona, which will open its doors very soon this season and in February 2019 they began to work fully on this beautiful Mercabañal project. The inspiration of this concept arises as a result of a trip to New York from Jose and Nacho to Roberta's Pizza in Brooklyn, and after having passed through the ruins budapest pub . Why not make a similar place but in the neighborhood where they were born? Said and done.
In the end they found the premises where this place has been built, which began as a skating rink to later become a nightclub, which more than entertaining ended up disturbing the neighborhood. This is how the three of them picked up the witness of a half-abandoned place and gave it the light and life that it gives off even before crossing its doors.
A PROJECT THAT LOOKS AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD
That the main entrance of the enclosure is located in the shipyards street, Instead of the one that faces the coast, which is Eugenia Viñes, it is no coincidence. “We love having the sea 30 meters away, but we want to look at the neighborhood , we want the neighborhood not to lose the essence that characterizes it so much and of which we are so proud, it is our home. Mercabañal is still the neighborhood, it is still the street” , comments Nacho Medina emphasizing the importance of a place that does not understand classes, appearances or pretensions.
An outdoor space of 1,200 m2 with several high terraces, which has been remodeled with recycled materials and containers of merchant ships, lined inside with tiles and wood. The tiles, the work of local graphic artist Mután, are inspired by the iconic tiles so characteristic of the neighborhood's houses.
The stalls and the decoration are made up of the containers that lived in the old brewery, El Eagle in the Cabanyal , a beer that was founded in Madrid in 1900 and that this 2019 the Heineken brand has returned to commercialize. What better way than to join and do the embassy of El Águila in Mercabañal.
This is how this brewery not only offers a product that was destined to be recovered, but has also equipped this establishment with the containers to form a sustainable space and aware of the environment . A place full of avant-garde, carefreeness and a rogue air that invites the best of meetings.
Corners of the Mercabañal space
LOCAL AND KM 0 GASTRONOMY
What can we find in it? The essence of Valencia . As soon as you enter the premises map shows us all the posts that make up the project, for the most clueless or for those who are not looking for complications, as Nacho Medina assures: “although it is a concept that we are very clear about, there are people who may need some guidance and what better way than a map to dispel any doubts.
The frying with the excellent fish from the fish market and from the neighborhood market, served in the traditional paper cones that are consumed so much in Andalusia and in the coastal cities. Puntilla with alioli in its ink, fried fish, squid rings, glass prawns, boletus croquettes or shrimp pancakes are some of the delicacies that can be tasted in this first place.
Typical Andalusian paper cones
In Groceries everything you can imagine to enjoy a spectacular lunch, dinner, snack or dinner: Perelló tomatoes , the Valencian cheese board, the can of mussels, the homemade sobrasada or the goose pâté with toasts, you will not know which dish to choose!
the third place Pizza Lab comes from the hand of our neighbor and dear Italy , a nod to that inspiring Roberta's Pizza but this time with the help of the hoteliers in charge of Sorsi and Morsi , offering homemade and delicious local products such as longaniza pizza, mozzarella, tomato, spinach and bacon. In addition, it is a concept that emerges as a laboratory in which each week they will try to propose a different pizza to create and innovate. A full-fledged gastronomic experience!
Valencian tomatoes from Perelló
This in terms of food. If we go to the drinks, very soon you will be able to taste a mobile coffee stall . For the moment, the beer venue logo The Eagle , which can be found in El Bar, is already brightening up the days and nights of all those who pass by merchandising , impossible to leave there without trying it well filtered or without debugging.
"The unfiltered Aguila is a recovered recipe that is a beer that contains hops and unfiltered barley, it has a more intense flavor," Borja González, head of local communication, tells Traveler.es. A perfect option for beer lovers. On the upper terrace, a cocktail bar awaits us for the most suitable of after-meals or to accompany us at sunset.
Beer lovers won't be able to resist
And let's not forget the performances and cultural activities that will liven up the coming summer days. Without program, calendar and without warning, so that those present are surprised and let themselves be infected by the rogue concept of the place.
Hundreds of reasons to visit could be listed merchandising during the next few months, but the best thing is that you witness it with your own eyes and live it in the first person. This enclave located Mediterranean shores, It does nothing more than remind us that to feel at home but at the same time away from home, it is not necessary to go very far. The true essence of the soul of Valencia with avant-garde overtones is summed up perfectly in this recently landed outdoor space in the neighborhood.
'Welcome, you are at home, now it's time to eat, drink and smile' , reads a large mural as soon as you enter Mercabañal. A motto that for the moment is being fulfilled from the first day. Do you sign up for the best of summer plans?
'Eat, drink and smile' is the motto of Mercabañal
Address: Calle de Eugènia Viñes 225 (Valencia) See map
Schedule: Wednesday to Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 00:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday: closed