Arroz del senyoret is the gentleman's paella: a seafood rice where all the shellfish is peeled before serving, so the eater does not have to do the work.
Where to eat it: 2 restaurants across 1 city.
Arroz del senyoret (literally 'little gentleman's rice') is a Valencian and Alicante variation on seafood paella, where all the prawns, langoustines and squid are peeled and shelled before going into the rice. The dish was reputedly developed in coastal hotel kitchens for diners who did not want to dirty their fingers. The flavour-builder is the seafood stock made from the discarded shells. La Riua and La Pepica both cook canonical versions.
Common allergens: Shellfish, Fish
Tip from the editors. The peeled shellfish is the whole point; serve so the diner does not need to use their hands. The shells become the stock; do not discard.
This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.
La Pepica on Passeig de Neptu in Valencia's Malvarrosa beach has served paella since 1898; Hemingway, Queen Sofia and Orson Welles all ate the rice here.
Signature: Paella valenciana, Arroz a banda, Arroz del senyoret
Order: The paella valenciana with rabbit, chicken and ferraura beans at lunch, with a half-bottle of Utiel-Requena bobal.
Tip: Book the beachfront terrace one week ahead. Closed Sunday evenings. Hemingway's signed photograph hangs in the inner dining room.
La Riua on Carrer del Mar in Valencia's old town has run a family-tavern rice kitchen since 1978, now in the third generation, with a dozen paellas on the carte.
Signature: Paella valenciana, Arroz a banda, Fideua
Order: The paella valenciana or the arroz a banda; the house Utiel-Requena tinto is honest.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. The dining room fills with locals by 14:00; reserve ahead.
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