Costa Blanca market days

Whether you are on holiday or a local, everybody enjoys the special ambience of a local market. Fruit and vegetables seem fresher and better priced than in the supermarkets, and you often see Spanish locals stocking up for the week. Market days are weekly on the Costa Blanca and each town has a fixed day.

I enjoy a market as a private person, and as a caterer and chef of course. Fresh vegetables are essential for successful catering, whether for a wedding, a barbecue, tapas and paella, a birthday party or any other special event.

I like to add fresh vegetable skewers (pinchos de vegetales) to my barbecue menus. Everybody loves them. Put fresh peppers, aubergines, courgettes, onions, carrot slices and mushrooms on a skewer, blanching the carrots first. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice and season with thyme, freshly chopped garlic, salt and pepper.

Market days on the Costa Blanca

Monday

Agres, Callosa d'En Sarrià, Cox, Dénia, Elche, Formentera, Granja de Rocamora, Ibi, La Nucía, Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Orihuela, Parcent, Petrer, Penàguila, Monòver, Real de Gandia, San Pedro del Pinatar, Santa Pola, Sax, Xeraco.

Tuesday

Alicante (Rastro), Aspe, Altea, Barx, Bellreguard, Benijófar, Campo de Mirra, Castalla, Elda, Jalón (Xaló), Orihuela, Palma de Gandia, Piles, Rafelcofer, Relleu, San Fulgencio, Tibi, Villalonga, Xeresa.

Wednesday

Ador, Alcoy, Alqueries, Almoines, Banyeres, Barx, Benjema, Beniarrés, Benidorm, Benilloba, Benitachell, Biar, Callosa de Segura, Calpe (Rastro), El Campello, Elda, Guardamar del Segura, La Font d'en Carròs, La Mata, Muchamiel, Monforte del Cid, Novelda, Orba, Ondara, Petrer, Polop, Pòtries, Rótova, San Miguel de Salinas, Teulada.

Thursday

Agost, Agres, Albatera, Alguenya, Alicante, Aspe, Benidoleig, Cocentaina, Hondón de los Frailes, Jávea (Xàbia), Llocnou de Sant Jeroni, Pego, Platja de Bellreguard, Rafelcofer, Rojales, San Javier, Tavernes de la Valldigna, Villajoyosa, Xixona (Jijona).

Friday

Albatera, Alfaz del Pi, Almoines, Banyeres, Benejúzar, Beniarrés, Benidoleig, Crevillente, Daimús, Dénia (Rastro), El Verger, Finestrat, Gata de Gorgos, Granja de Rocamora, L'Alfàs del Pi, Monforte del Cid, Montesinos, Moraira, Muro de Alcoy, Oliva, Onil, Petrer, Pilar de la Horadada, Rafol d'Almúnia, Tibi, Torrevieja, Villalonga.

Saturday

Alcoy, Alicante, Almoradí, Alqueria, Banyeres, Bellreguard, Benifairó, Benissa, Callosa d'En Sarrià, Calpe, Castalla, Castell de Castells, Catral, Elche, Elda, La Font d'En Carròs, La Romana, Gaianes, Hondón de las Nieves, Novelda, Ondara, Pedreguer, Playa Flamenca, San Vicente del Raspeig, Salinas, Relleu, Santa Pola, Xaló (Jalón) Rastro.

Sunday

Algorfa, Benidorm, Benijófar, Campoverde, El Campo de Guardamar, Elche, El Zoco, La Nucía, Llíber, La Marina, Pedreguer, El Verger, Villajoyosa.

Enjoy!

Chef Bob