Some useful tips, vocabulary and shops for all of us

Essential Oils

Good quality essential oils

Farmacia next to the German School in Valencia. C/ Jamie Roig 18 Tel 96 369 0377 

Food

Mercadona is the one of the cheapest supermarkets with good quality produce.  Mercadona is everywhere, in Betera, Moncada, La Canada, San Antonio, L’Eliana, Nuevo Centro in Valencia.  The stores have free car parking.  You can buy Heinz baked beans, tinned spaghetti and foods without gluten or salt (sin gluten/sin sal), and tomato puree which is called tomato concentrate.  For self-raising flour buy Bizcocho, it’s in a box by the flour (harina).  Buy chicken limpio not entero unless you want entire chicken including feet and head.  The supermarkets only sell small tubs of icing sugar –Azucar Glace azucarera para decorar y reposteria, you can buy larger bags in Javea, 1 hour drive south of Valencia along with many other English foods.

Mercadonna website www.mercadona.es has an English translation. They will also deliver for €7 (charge when this was typed).  They also supply turkeys; order 5 days before required and you will need to go in early the day you want them in case the ordering system has not worked!

Carrefour – the nearest are in L’Eliana and  Paterna, Generally more expensive than Mercadona.

Taj Mahal delicatessen (in Valencia, next to the restaurant of the same name) sells spices, chutneys etc including Patak.s  curry pastes.

Estellas is an excellent meat shop with its entrance next to Jardiland on the CV35.  Use your discount card.  Present it before the cashier starts to ring up your goods.  They sell larger quantities for BBQ’s, also cheese and eggs.  For more information on meat ask for Augustine, the manager, he speaks English.

Hipercor (part of the El Cortes Ingles Group) is in Centro Ademuz on the right of CV35 before the Nuevo Centro; has free car parking and a large food hall with an excellent range of products including fresh fish,a good range of vegetables, maple syrup, coconut milk, tomato puree (concentrate), Bisto,  Chinese noodles for chow mein, different chinese sauces, chutney and other speciality items.

El Cortes Ingles department stores also have a food hall and has some speciality foods eg horseradish (not the sauce).

Note when paying by credit card or debit card in any shop you will be asked to produce some ID, use your passport, or driving license with photo, or NIE card.

Spainsbury’s can deliver a variety of English foods.  including homemade pork pies, golden syrup and also supplied English Easter eggs this year, amongst many other things.  They will also supply turkeys. Their shop is now in L’Eliana – from CV 35 take road into town centre past the turn to Centro Commercial, across two roundabouts and at 3^rd take sign to La Pobla de Valbonna, Spainsbury’s is immediately on the right opening times Mon-Friday 11am-8pm, Thursday 11am-9.30pm, Sauturday 11am-3pm www.spainsburys.com tel 96 275 1193/617215284

The Little Chop House Family Butchers, Avenguda del Raval, 30 Bajo, Ghandia; tel 962 867 643

sells all types of English cuts of meat including gammon as well as herb/curry/lamb and mint sausages and pasties.  They will also deliver to Valencia to an agreed rendezvous where you collect your order. You can also order through Spainsbury’s.Website www.thelittlechophouse.com.

Basic vocabulary:

pork :cerdo                                       beef/veal : carne de vacuno/ternera

lamb : cordero                                                mutton : carnero

kid : choto,cabrito                           game : caza

ham : jamon                                       pork sausages : salchichas

chicken : pollo

cream : nata (comes in cartons).  Nata para montar is whipping cream.  You must keep it in the fridge and chill well before you whisk it.  For cooking use nata para cocina.

Health Food Shops

Terra Verda in L’Eliana, Maria speaks English. CV35 exit 12 past Centro Commercial, turn left at 3rd^d roundabout into Avenida Corts de Valencianes, the, shop is on the left.

Herboristeria Navarro is a large health food shop in Valencia on Calle Arzobispo Mayoral 20, behind the Ajuntamiento it sells everything including tofu and chinese noodles.  See website www.terraverda.com