Spain / Valencia region - supermarket tips?

[Wintercurrentbun]

Off to Spain for a week, staying in the Valencia region (south) and going for a very quiet and restful week after very stressful time at work. Plan is to drive to a supermarket from the airport and pick up a few days supply of food / stuff so I can just relax for a few days.

No idea which ‘brand’ of supermarket is good and would love any tips of lovely items to look out for that we can’t get at home!

Help me out lively folk of Mumsnet😁🤗✈️

[DiscontentedWoman]

We will be in a similar area. My first shop will be Serrano, fuet salami, alioli, manchego, olives, almonds, Fino sherry, posh olive oil crisps, Radler lemon-beer stuff. DD1 loves these little Iberitos foil pots of tomato, garlic and olive oil for breakfast on bread or toast. Escombros from the freezer (tiny squid). Gazpacho from the chiller cabinet (not so struck on Salmorejo but it's worth a try). We have a small mas y mas in walking distance and it's fine for what we want.

[DiscontentedWoman]

Soberano brandy! Cheap and delicious. Picos de pan mini bread sticks

[Bjorkdidit]

I like Mercadona best. It's like a Spanish Aldi, mostly own brand good quality, great fish counter, bakery, ready to eat food etc.

Last time I was in there I got some great reusable yogurt pots for a couple of euros. If we weren't hand luggage only and we didn't already have a million plastic tubs, I'd have bought the entire range.

[hollyandivyknickers]

Go to a Mercadona if you can ! Love Mercadona

[DiscontentedWoman]

Cava - lots of lovely cava. And I'm going to try Kalimotxo (red wine + cola). Might be ghastly, could be an absolute revelation - who knows?? I've seen it ready mixed in the shops. Horchata is local, if that's your thing. I like the readymade tortillas for breakfast especially the kind with onions (con cibolla).

[TakeOnFlea]

Mercadona for manchego, alioli, chorizo and those little tomato and garlic crisp breads.

Wine in a carton 🤣 and all of the crisps

[DiscontentedWoman]

Bandilleras - pickled things on sticks - they come in jars, ready made. Nice with drinks. Like these Here - moreish with the olive oil crisps. Membrillo quince paste, good in tiny amounts atop wedges of cheese.

[DiscontentedWoman]

The tomato, garlic, olive oil breakfast stuff
I get it in mas y mas in a cardboard sleeve with about 4 or 5 in? We were there over Easter last year and because we stay in a small village, most shop were closed for much of the time. So I stocked up on part baked bread and it was really pretty good. Ideal if you just want to chill out and not shop too often 😊 plenty of bottled mineral water so you can be super-healthy and hydrated between all the cava and the chilled fino.

[AdriftAbroad1]

Hi there! I live near Gandia/Valencia.

As a PP said Mercadona is where to head for. (NOT mas y mas.)
Cava (Cabre y Sabre) or something, the dry one, is lovely. Better than Freixnet and 3or4 euros? Olives as above are all delicious. I like the packed in Olive oil artichokes. If you need a break, it will be so easy to assemble your own tapas meal.
They now do fresh tortilla/half tortillas/rations of tortilla (2e) which are very good.The jamon in a packet is also very good. Chorizo etc
Friuit and Veg brilliant.
The fresh bread section has small portuguese tarts which are really lovely.

Cheese is expensive and not so good unless you go for Spanish old cured cheese which is fabulous "queso viejo!"

You may need a bit of mozzie spray.

Nice weather atm! Enjoy!

Oh get the fresh orange juice.(you squeeze it yourself)

[Wintercurrentbun]

@AdriftAbroad1

Hi there! I live near Gandia/Valencia.

As a PP said Mercadona is where to head for. (NOT mas y mas.)
Cava (Cabre y Sabre) or something, the dry one, is lovely. Better than Freixnet and 3or4 euros? Olives as above are all delicious. I like the packed in Olive oil artichokes. If you need a break, it will be so easy to assemble your own tapas meal.
They now do fresh tortilla/half tortillas/rations of tortilla (2e) which are very good.The jamon in a packet is also very good. Chorizo etc
Friuit and Veg brilliant.
The fresh bread section has small portuguese tarts which are really lovely.

Cheese is expensive and not so good unless you go for Spanish old cured cheese which is fabulous "queso viejo!"

You may need a bit of mozzie spray.

Nice weather atm! Enjoy!

Oh get the fresh orange juice.(you squeeze it yourself)

Ahh this is amazing! We will be maybe 20 mins drive from Gandia! We have to drive past there to get to the place we’re staying, so if you have a top tip for a specific Mercadona that would be amazingly helpful - especially if it has parking! Slightly worried about driving on the wrong side 😅

Mmm I like the sound of those little pots of olive oil, tomato etc..

Are the tortilla’s corn based? I’m hugely gluten intolerant so can’t eat any of the lovely breads and tarts, so have been hoping I can find some sort of corn based tortillas..

Have ordered mozzie spray, was hoping it was too early for it, but hey ho!😣

[Ginisatonic]

Another vote for mercadona. DH has coeliac disease and needs to eat GF. They have a good range of GF bread, biscuits , pasta etc. They have some good part baked baguettes so you can fully enjoy the tomato/olive oil spread!

[Bjorkdidit]

People probably mean potato omelette tortillas not wraps. They're really nice but best warmed in the oven not microwave.

But Spain is good for gluten intolerance because lots foods are marked 'sin gluten'

If you like crisps you want Lays in the bright green packet. Campesinos flavour. I think it's tomato, onion and herb going by the picture.

[Wintercurrentbun]

@Ginisatonic

Another vote for mercadona. DH has coeliac disease and needs to eat GF. They have a good range of GF bread, biscuits , pasta etc. They have some good part baked baguettes so you can fully enjoy the tomato/olive oil spread!

Ah amazing thank you so much, this is really good to know!

[Wintercurrentbun]

I’m really excited about the big tomatoes, oranges, olives and lovely fresh produce (and the Cava😜)!

[turkeyboots]

I love visiting all the supermarkets while away, Carrefour is always worth a visit too!

Tinto de verano is my pick, slightly fizzy red wine and soda, not dissimilar to Sangria, but I like it more.

[Wintercurrentbun]

Love all these tips, this is exactly what I was hoping for 🇪🇸🌞🧡

[AdriftAbroad1]

There are Mercadonas everywhere! Oliva, several in Gandia, all with parking.

Yes, as per PP tortillas I meant tortilla de patatas. A potato omlette with or without onion or with courgette.

Yes!The Valencian tomatoes.with salt and olive oil.
They look odd and are 1euro each but are amazing.
Dont forget the local markets (probably a Friday)

If you like crisps Lays are indeed great.

[Wintercurrentbun]

@AdriftAbroad1

There are Mercadonas everywhere! Oliva, several in Gandia, all with parking.

Yes, as per PP tortillas I meant tortilla de patatas. A potato omlette with or without onion or with courgette.

Yes!The Valencian tomatoes.with salt and olive oil.
They look odd and are 1euro each but are amazing.
Dont forget the local markets (probably a Friday)

If you like crisps Lays are indeed great.

Aha Spanish omelette, yum! I love those too.

Am google mapping Mercadona’s now😂

A friend recommended a Carrefour Hypermarket in Gandia, so have saved that as well. I always thought they were French🤔

[Ginisatonic]

The gluten free stuff is normally just with everything else rather than in a separate ‘free from’ area.

[AdriftAbroad1]

I dont really like Carrefore either. I too,consider them French. But you can get everything in that particular (bright yellow) one!

Mercadona is more authentic! Carrefore is very straight forward, has everything and is signposted everywhere, however!

Have a wonderful time. The beaches along this bit of coast are amazing and pristine.

[Wintercurrentbun]

@AdriftAbroad1

I dont really like Carrefore either. I too,consider them French. But you can get everything in that particular (bright yellow) one!

Mercadona is more authentic! Carrefore is very straight forward, has everything and is signposted everywhere, however!

Have a wonderful time. The beaches along this bit of coast are amazing and pristine.

Ah thanks for coming back and replying💙
I was hoping you would mention the beaches - I’d love to know which you recommend for a long walk along the shoreline and which is good for older kids (10+13y).

Im going to try and save a Mercadona on my map as well. Does anyone know how to tell which are bigger stores? Are there ‘express’ versions like in the UK.

When I search groceries on Google maps there are a million food shops 😅

[Mynewnameis]

I loved mercadona in tenerife. The fish counter especially

[Bjorkdidit]

When I search groceries on Google maps there are a million food shops

Yes, there's loads of supermarkets in Spain, but a lot aren't great. Spar or Super/Hiperdino everywhere but poor choice and really expensive. Last time we were there, the nearest few supermarkets were these types and we managed for a few days, then we passed near a Mercadona while on a day out and popped in to get a few bits, but we weren't in a position to carry much as on the bus (we hadn't hired a car).

With hindsight we'd have been better off making a list and taking the suitcases to Mercadona on day 1, stocking up and getting a taxi back.

[Perfectlystill]

Mercadona is FABULOUS. They do great own range moisturiser (body cream) which I always stock up on.

So many delicious things I don't know where to start. Am singing the Mercadona theme tune in my head now.

[NigelHarmansNewWife]

I used to shop in Mercadona when I lived in Valencia. If you like fish, the selection is vastly superior to what we have in the UK with a wet fish counter, frozen section and there's usually a whole aisle of tinned tuna!