Eating out is a delight here with literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from. Perhaps a traditional Spanish restaurant with hams hanging from the beams and barrels of local wine at the bar, including a huge selection of Tapas.

Locally caught fish and seafood together with a fresh crisp salad makes a perfect meal especially if a glass of delicious local wine is added. Seafood abounds on the Costa Blanca, and much of it is quite reasonably priced. Try grilled red mullet or sardines, sea bass cooked in sea salt or fried baby whiting. Langostinos (giant prawns) are especially popular. A regional speciality is zarzuela, a kind of seafood stew. Calamari (squid) can be cooked in a sauce or is often deep-fried.

Tapas were traditionally served as a ‘little something’ to accompany cocktails. They can range from nuts or olives to morsels of ham and cheese, croquettes, squid or sardines. A selection of tapas makes a lovely light lunch. You can also ask for larger portions, called raciones.

Rice is the regional dish of Valencia province, prepared in countless variations in every town on the Costa Blanca. The most famous is paella valenciana, saffron rice with chicken and vegetables.

Look out for barbecue restaurants that do meat a la brasa – cooked on a brazier. Choose from savoury pork chops, steaks or lamb cutlets.

Wines - Spain produces excellent wines, jerez (sherries) and cava (champagne). A good cava is Cordorniu, and you will also recognise Freixenet, sold at home at twice the price. The Jalon valley is famous for its muscatel grape. There are plenty of popular Rioja wines, but be sure to try some of Alicante’s own excellent vino tinto (red).