TYPICAL DISHES OF THE COSTA BLANCA

17 January, 2022 by grupocostacalida

THE BEST DISHES ON THE COSTA BLANCA

At Costa Cálida Promotores we not only build homes with the best materials, the most modern and respectful techniques and the most meticulous finishes. At Costa Cálida Promotores we also choose the best places to live. Communications, services, beach, sun… and the best typical dishes.

Because if the Costa Blanca is famous for anything, apart from its picture-postcard villages (as we saw in this article), it is for its gastronomy. A gastronomy with thousands of years of history, based on the Mediterranean diet and with the products of the sea at the heart of its creations (without forgetting the vegetables harvested in the huerta). A sea rich in fish and seafood, from which the freshest and most flavourful delicacies are obtained.

Are you thinking of coming to live on the Costa Blanca?

Well, don’t think twice, because you’ll be able to enjoy typical dishes like this.

ARROZ A BANDA

Rice from the Comunidad Valenciana is famous around the world. But the dishes that can be prepared with it go far beyond the well-known paella. Such as arroz a banda, a typical fisherman’s dish, made with fish stock, seafood, ñora (a spicy dried pepper) and served with the famous alioli sauce, an emulsion of olive oil and garlic. A perfect dish to enjoy on the seashore and with a good piece of homemade bread.

PARRILLADA DE MARISCO

Without leaving seafood, a dish that is a must try on the Costa Blanca is the parrillada de marisco (grilled seafood). A simple dish but one that impresses with its flavour and variety. It consists of a large platter full of all kinds of seafood (prawns, langoustines, lobsters…) cooked on the grill with salt, garlic, parsley and olive oil. One of the most Mediterranean mixes you can try.

Tip: if you want to enjoy the authentic parrillada de marisco of the Costa Blanca, you have to go to Calpe.

FIDEUÁ

Originally from Gandía, this plate is very similar to a paella or a typical rice dish. The main difference lies in its basic ingredient: rice is replaced by thick pasta noodles that absorb all the flavours of the cooking broth. As with arroz a banda, it is usually prepared with fish stock, seafood, vegetables and the essential alioli sauce. A dish that may seem strange at first sight, but has a unique flavour and texture.

PERICANA

This is a typical recipe from the inland villages of the province of Alicante. It consists of a mixture of olive oil, dried peppers and salted fish. It is ideal to eat with bread or to accompany other dishes, as it can be considered a salted fish salad. It is undoubtedly one of the most authentic dishes that combines the great tradition of the huerta and the sea.

BORRETA

Another typical Alicante creation that combines land and sea. Borreta is a stew with potatoes, spinach, ñoras and salted fish. Perfect for winter days after a long walk through the inland areas of the Costa Blanca. As an extra, a poached egg is usually added per person.

OLLETA

We continue with perfect dishes for the coldest days of winter. It is considered a unique meal, as the mixture of ingredients is one of the most complete you can find. Olleta has: rice, vegetables, legumes, pork ribs, bacon, onion and ñora. There are hundreds of variations on this recipe (even a vegan version without meat), but with one thing in common: a couple of spoonfuls, and you will recover all your strength.

As you can see, the Costa Blanca is much more than beautiful villages, dream beaches, rugged terrain and an enviable weather. The Costa Blanca is also a temple of the most traditional Mediterranean gastronomy, where the huerta and the sea go hand in hand in every meal to create intense and healthy flavours.

Because the gastronomy of the Costa Blanca is not just cuisine, it is a way of life.

If you have any questions, please contact us through the means indicated on this page. We will be delighted to help you.

BUY A NEW SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSE

10 December, 2021 by grupocostacalida

Do you want to buy a new self-sufficient house?

At Costa Cálida Promotores we are very aware of the impact that construction can have on the environment. That is why our developments take into account respect for the environment. An environment that is part of our lives, and that we have to take care of as what it is: something unique.

We have already talked about the advantages of new construction over second-hand housing. One of these advantages was the modernity of materials and construction techniques; the more modern, the more efficient.

Unfortunately, not all homes have been built with the planet in mind. That is why we have decided to write this post, to show that, with a minimum of investment, and even without spending a single euro, you can achieve a sustainable home without sacrificing quality of life.

Do you dare to be more sustainable with a self-sufficient house? We explain its advantages.

THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE

A home is a place where we feel safe, where we pour our personality into creating spaces that define us. We also want these spaces to be pleasant. And the main way to do this is through temperature. A temperature that we achieve by different means. But be careful! An abuse or a headless temperature control can lead to a resource-devouring home, which is equal to a money-devouring one.

Let’s review some tips on how to achieve the ideal temperature without wrecking the environment and your wallet:

– INSULATING WINDOWS: perhaps the most important point. A well-insulated house is an efficient house. That is why it is always advisable to have insulated windows that protect us from the inclemency of the weather, as well as freeing us from annoying external noise. This point requires investment, if you don’t already have it, but it is a profitable investment. Why? Because that heating that you used to use in spring or autumn will no longer be necessary with good insulating windows. Less expenditure = more savings.

– EFFICIENT HEATING: both in terms of system and use. And yes, we are mentioning points that require investment, but they are investments that are amortised in a very short time, as well as respecting the environment.

As far as the system is concerned, it is important to choose which one we want to acclimatise our home. Let’s take an example: a radiator system usually works by heating water to around 60 or 70 degrees Celsius, while an underfloor heating system works at between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius. See the difference?

In terms of use, we all like to wear our shorts indoors while the blizzard rages outside. But does it pay off? It doesn’t. The best thing to do is to keep the house at a stable temperature that allows you to wear light, but not summer clothes. Turning the thermostat up and down is no good either. And, above all, turn the heating on according to your day-to-day life. Turning it on at 50 degrees Celsius because you have woken up and are going to take a shower to go outside is not the most advisable thing to do.

– LIKE THE ANCENTRAS: in areas where it is very hot in summer, there is something basic that will prevent sweating and save you money: the cave effect. What does it do? Very simple: open all the windows in the house when the outside temperature is more pleasant (night, dawn…) and close them, with the blinds down or the curtains drawn, when the heat is on. Remember the insulated windows? They work wonders here. They keep in the coolness that we have let in, insulating us from the hell that is raging outside.

DO THE SAME WITH LESS WATER

It may seem utopian, but it can be done. There are a multitude of parts and accessories on the market that can turn our taps into water-saving machines. How? By reducing the flow that comes out of them.

This does not mean that we have to go from a thick fist-sized jet of water to a trickle of water that barely wets the toothbrush. Most attachments of this type use a clever mix of water and air to reduce the flow rate without affecting the power output. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s just science.

BRAND NEW IS NOT A LUXURY

We are talking about household appliances. Maybe that oven or washing machine that came with the house ten years ago is still working perfectly, but have you ever stopped to think about the extra expense you have every month? And about the new technologies that you are not taking advantage of? Nowadays, even household appliances are smart! That’s why an old appliance, even if it is functional, is an economic burden that also harms the environment. Consider a renovation, even if it’s in stages.

PUT A BRAIN IN YOUR HOME

Or in other words: make it smart. By means of new technologies, we can gain complete control over everything that happens in our home. Smart light bulbs, smart sockets, smart curtains… Humans are determined to make everything smart, and we must take advantage of them.

By means of mobile or computer applications, all these intelligent components can be put at the service of efficiency and savings. We can activate or deactivate them according to our life. And they can even make life easier for us by activating them minutes before we enter our home.

If technology allows us to have complete control, why not take advantage of it?

YOUR FRIEND THE SUN

Years ago, having a solar panel was more declarative than functional; the energy collection was not efficient, the price was very high and legislation was confusing. Today, a solar panel is as affordable as a high-end television. And if you are fortunate enough to live in an area like the Costa Cálida, where the sun hardly ever hides, the benefits are enormous.

Why pay for polluting energy when we have all the energy we want from the sun?

PUT A BRAIN IN YOUR HEAD

Because not everything is limited to turning your home into a kind of sustainable technological god. If you don’t do your bit, what’s the point of all the investment? Be consistent with your energy expenditure and resource consumption. If you pay attention, you’ll find that you can do the same thing while consuming less. And for goodness sake, recycle! Almost all packaging now has a colour code to show you which bin to throw it in – we don’t even have to think about it! Dedicate two tiles in your house to bins for the different types of waste. The planet will thank you, and you’ll sleep better. We promise.

As you can see, there are many ways to make your home more environmentally sustainable as well as efficient, which has a direct impact on your savings. Take a good look at the characteristics of your home and start implementing the measures we have mentioned in this article. Together, let’s make the planet a better place to live!

If you have any questions, please contact us through the means indicated on this page. We will be delighted to help you.

COSTA BLANCA VILLAGES

11 November, 202122 October, 2021 by grupocostacalida

There are many reasons to live on the Costa Blanca, as we mentioned in this article. But one of the most important, without a doubt, is its towns and villages. There are hundreds of places to discover on the Costa Blanca, and all of them tell a little piece of Spanish and world history.

That is why Costa Cálida Promotores is going to review the most emblematic places to visit in the southeast of Spain. But first, a bit of context.

WHAT IS THE COSTA BLANCA

The Costa Blanca is the name given to the coastline in the province of Alicante in southeastern Spain, one of the regions with the best climate on the Iberian Peninsula. It stretches from Denia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south. 244km of beaches, coves and cliffs.

And why is it called Costa Blanca? As we will see later, most of the villages in this area paint the facades of their buildings white. As the sun hits the houses, the villages glow, making the whole area look like a white coast from the air.

But the towns in this part of southeastern Spain are much more than white walls. They play with history, with the ancient and the modern, without forgetting the natural landscapes that range from the eternal beaches of fine sand to the most rugged corners of the mountains.

Places like the ones we are going to see below (although there are many more).

ALTEA

It is considered by many to be the most beautiful village on the Costa Blanca. Overlooking the sea and with a fishing tradition, Altea stands out for its whitewashed houses and cobbled streets that form postcards to stroll through. In the same day you can visit all the tourist attractions of this town: the promenade and the port, the old town, the Garden of the Senses, the Orthodox Church, the walled remains, the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo…

To visit Altea is to be surprised at every step, as this fishing village hides in its streets as much history as beauty. If you are on the Costa Blanca, you have to visit it. If you don’t, you will have wasted your trip.

CALPE

Calpe is another of the most beautiful towns on the Costa Blanca. The best known image is the Peñón de Ifach, a 332-metre high mountain that has become a natural park thanks to its bio-diversity. But there are more things to see in Calpe, such as the salt flats, the Baños de la Reina, a Roman archaeological site on the seashore, the Roman Baths, the Torre Molí del Morelló, an Arab windmill, the 15th century walls of the old town and a thousand other secrets.

To go to Calpe is to be fascinated by nature, history and gastronomy.

DENIA

Without leaving the coast, we travel to Denia, a city that dates back to Roman times. With so many years behind it, it is not difficult to guess that its streets and corners are full of stories from all eras, such as the Torrecremada Park, the Fish Market and Drassanes, the Fishermen’s Quarter, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (located in an old air raid shelter from the Spanish Civil War)…

But, without a doubt, the place that stands out most in Denia is its castle, located on a hill that rises up from the heart of the town and built in the Islamic period. Its views and the stories it conceals make it a must-see for any tourist.

TABARCA

One of the most peculiar enclaves on the Costa Blanca. Located nine kilometres from the coast, this small village is the only inhabited island in the area. Remains from Roman times have been found on its land, and it was permanently inhabited in the 18th century. It has a medieval wall in perfect condition, cobbled streets, white-walled houses and beaches and coves with turquoise waters that more than invite you to swim, they force you to do so.

If you are on the Costa Blanca, you have to swim in Tabarca.

VILLAJOYOSA

In rivalry with Altea for being the most beautiful town on the Costa Blanca, this town has existed since Roman times. Villajoyosa is famous for perhaps two main reasons: its Moors and Christians fiestas, where historic battles are reenacted on land and sea, and its gastronomy, which has gained international recognition thanks to its deep-rooted fishing tradition and the numerous gastronomic events that take place in its streets.

Another highlight of Villajoyosa is to be found in its hanging houses, buildings that defy gravity over the Amadorio river. But perhaps its most outstanding feature is the Fishermen’s Quarter, located next to the port and with the facades of the buildings painted in different colours. A visual note that makes the town a must-see.

JÁVEA

Like almost all the towns on the Costa Blanca, Jávea has a cobbled old town centre and white-walled houses that will delight any tourist, not forgetting its Playa del Arenal and its extensive marina. But the most famous element of this town is not in the streets, but in the surroundings.

Jávea has some of the most stunning natural spots on the Costa Blanca. Places such as the Granadella cove or the Montgó Natural Park, which includes places such as the lighthouse of San Antonio cape, the Cova Tallada, the Molins de la Plana or the sea caves that can be visited from the sea.

GUADALEST

Somewhat lesser known internationally, this beautiful village has retained all its medieval essence. Perched on a rise in an inland valley in the province of Alicante, this historic gem boasts a castle that seems to rise out of the mountain, streets and houses perched on steep cliffs, and views that stretch for miles around.

If you want to feel history in its purest essence, you have to visit Guadalest.

As you can see, the Costa Blanca is home to places that are striking for their beauty and history. But the Costa Blanca is much more than towns and cities, as we will see in future articles. So be sure to visit our blog to discover a thousand more secrets.

Do you need more reasons to come and live in this piece of paradise? You have them in our homes! In Costa Cálida Promotores we understand and respect the environment, building houses that fit perfectly with the history and beauty of the Costa Blanca. You can visit them on our website.

Don’t miss the opportunity to live life!

If you have any questions, please contact us through the means indicated on this page. We will be delighted to help you.