The markets of Alicante held a culinary event at the Mercado de La Paz in Madrid, showcasing the region's gastronomic excellence. The event featured showcookings by chefs from Garra and Baka, along with tastings of traditional nougat and various spirits.
Lidia López, the councillor for Markets, emphasised the positive impact of the event, stating, "This experience has been very beneficial in positioning Alicante's markets and their gastronomy as benchmarks of tradition, innovation, and quality. A similar event will soon take place in Alicante."
The gathering, which took place on 12 November 2026, was the first exchange of gastronomic experiences between markets, allowing attendees to sample dishes prepared by chefs David Gallego from Garra and others from the Central and Benalúa markets. The initiative aims to highlight the importance of Alicante's markets as centres of local produce and culinary excellence.
The event began with a dish from Garra, a fusion restaurant that combines Alicante, Mediterranean, Japanese, and Mexican cuisines. Chef David Gallego presented a creative dish featuring scallops with guanciale and strawberries, served on a base of sweet potato, potato, and local salted fish.
López also noted that following Alicante's designation as the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy, efforts continue to promote the city’s restaurants, professionals, and markets as cultural hubs that engage the public and showcase quality and innovation.
Located in the heart of the Salamanca district, the Mercado de La Paz has been operating since 1872 and offers a diverse range of fresh products and high-quality market food. The event also featured tastings from Turrones de Casa 1880, which has a stall in the market, and a sampling of spirits from 'Paloma' by Anis Teís.
To conclude the day, Baka, a meat-focused space from the Benalúa market, conducted a showcooking featuring cow anchovy with seaweed bread and confit tomatoes, as well as a brioche of steak tartare and crispy potatoes, which were enjoyed by attendees.
Looking ahead, the Central Market of Alicante is set to host another event with tastings and showcookings from the Mercado de La Paz, further promoting these national reference markets.
