Ca Pepico: authentic and wonderful Valencian cuisine

Today's recommendation has been one of the discoveries of the year. For me, of course. In Valencia, the value of this restaurant is no secret. I'll give you the context. I was visiting La Terreta and asked a friend who's from there to take me to a 100% Valencian place where they served good food. And he was so right that it could become one of my regular spots if I were just a monkey closer. It's Ca Pepico, located in l'Horta Nord.

They serve "garden and sea cuisine," as they describe it. The restaurant's history begins in 1930, when Jose Ferrer Rodrigo, grandfather of the current owners, Ana and Pepe Ferrer Martí, built the house where the restaurant is located. Ana and Pepe's father, Jose Ferrer Coret, ran it as a bar from 1975. And in fact, a charming photo still remains there symbolically. Together they helped it grow, and now it's one of the temples where you can eat, for example, an excellent paella. The dining room is spacious and bright, and there's also a pleasant patio. The place exudes the solidity of a good house of old, but you can also notice the renovation carried out in 2000.

Ca Pepico is a meeting place, attracting people of all kinds. Wine lovers too, because Pepe Ferrer is a great connoisseur and has one of the best wine cellars in the area. He explains wine with simplicity and respect. As for the restaurant, besides excellent pans, you'll find great salads, fresh fish, typical dishes like figatells, and an unbeatable cazalla flan. Oh, and Pepe's good conversation, a host with a knack for dealing with people.