Jalon Valley Alicante Costa Blanca Spain
The village of Jalon / Xalo
In the heart of the pink and white almond blossom Jalon Valley - Aka Vall de Pop. Jalon is inland from the coastal town of Moraira, Costa Blanca. Turn off the N-322 road at Benissa/Senija - It's well sign posted.
Other villages interspersed in the valley including: Lliber, Alcalali, Parcent, Murla, Xalo, Benichembla and Castell de Castells.
The Sierra de Bernia mountains, a rambles paradise surround the plains of olive trees, raisins, almonds, orange groves, and vineyards producing wine.
Top ten best things to do in Jalon
1. Saturday morning Rastro (flea Market).
2. Visit the old square on Tuesday for the open market.
3. Aleluya bar/shop for tapas and a sweet muscatel wine.
4. Lunch at the Verdi Vent Restaurant - Spanish and northern European cuisine.
5. Visit the bodegas (wine cellars) where you can sample the various types before buying.
6. Stroll around the town through the old narrow streets taking in the scenery and the Arabic culture influenced.
7. Sit outside one of the Spanish bars in the new square in the evening.
8. Attend a fiesta.
9. Visit the village of Lliber it's in walking distance or the other villages in the valley.
10. Guided walks.
Fiestas:
Assumption of Mary - fiesta Wednesday, 15.08.2012
Valencia day fiesta Tuesday, 09.10.2012
Dia de la hispanidad fiesta Friday, 12.10.2012
All saints day - fiesta Thursday, 01.11.2012
Constitution day fiesta Thursday, 06.12.2012
Immaculate conception Saturday, 08.12.2012
Bull running takes pace in some of the towns in the valley.
Jalon Wine, Hallelujah!
Jalon, also known as Xalo in local Valencia dialect, is famous for its wine and you can sample it in the numerous bodegas (wine cellars) in the town. People come from all over the province of Alicante to fill their containers with litres of wine at a fraction of the cost
Lasting remnants of Jalon's Arabic past are present, beating the heat with shady courtyards, thick stone and mortar walls, large wooden doors and decorated tiles.
Jalon's old town has an ancient square, a central fountain and looming over it a blue domed church. The Tranquil village becomes lively on a Tuesday morning with a street market and on Saturday a huge Rastro style market (flea market) in which tourist flock, including blanket trippers from Benidorm.
Jalon also has some great restaurants selling various types of the local wine. It is also home to the famous Hallelujah Bar a great place to chill-out, the owner without warning often shouts out ''Hallelujah'' as he pours a fine trickle of wine down his face and into his mouth from the Porrón - A Spanish drinking vessel with a narrow pointed spout which in theory directs a spurt of wine into your mouth.
HELP a charity organisation run by Ex-pat volunteers hold annual events, including a May fair plus a Christmas bazaar.
The Jalon Snake Story
There are thirteen snake spices in Spain five of which are venomous:
Snub-nosed or Lataste's viper
Seoane's viper
Asp viper
False smooth snake
Montpellier Snake
These snakes are not common all over Spain and it was said that years ago the only place you could get anti-venom in the area was in the Pharmacia in Jalon, once you got there on you Burro (Donkey). Above a large stone arch on a wooden shelf were jars of dead snakes of which you would chose the one that bit you, the anti-venom in turn was administered.
Hallelujah!
Costa Blanca Books
Ingredients
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic crushed
- 4 table spoons of olive oil
- 450 g/1lb minced lamb
- 2 eggs beaten
- 4 tbls fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 tbls freshly chopped parsley
- 1 tsp chopped thyme
- Salt and ground black pepper
- Flour for coating
- FOR THE SAUCE
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 100 g/4oz mushrooms sliced
- 1 small red pepper diced
- 25 g/1oz flour
- 150 ml/1/4 PT dry white wine
- 600 ml/1 PT Lamb stock
- 400 g/ 14 FL OZ chopped tinned tomatoes
Instructions
- Lightly fry the onion and garlic in 1tbs of the olive oil until soft.
- Lightly fry the onion and garlic in 1tbs of the olive oil until soft.
- In a bowl mix the mince Lamb, eggs, breadcrumbs, parsley, thyme, and seasoning.
- Add the onions and stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Using your hands shape the mixture into balls the size of walnuts and coat in flour.
- Heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan and fry the meatballs turning them to seal evenly.
- Remove with a slotted spoon onto a plate.
- The Sauce
- Add onion, mushrooms and red peppers to the pan and lightly fry for 2 minutes .
- Mix the flour in thoroughly.
- Over a gentle heat gradually add the wine, stirring well.
- Add the stock, tomatoes and seasoning.
- Mix and bring to the boil.
- Lower the heat and add the meatballs and simmer for 45 minutes until the sauce has thickened.
