Last weekend, ‘Love to Rock’ bid farewell to its fifth edition with 18,000 attendees at La Marina de València. As a great novelty this year, the gastronomic area ‘Love to Food’ grew in number of participants with 5 Michelin-starred chefs and its own music stage. Chefs Begoña Rodrigo, Alejandra Herrador, Roseta Félix, Carito Lourenço and chef Germán Carrizo adapted their haute cuisine proposals to a portable format to be enjoyed in the food court or while watching a concert.

‘Love to Rock’ is a music festival that welcomes in the autumn at ‘La Marina de València’ and said goodbye last weekend with 18,000 total attendees and strengthened its commitment to bring quality cuisine to the environment of a music festival with the ‘Love to Food’ proposal. This year, the public, as well as being thrilled by the performances of La Habitación Roja, Niños Mutantes, Sidonie, Dorian, Sidecars, La La La Love You, La Casa Azul, Mujeres and Ginebras among many others, was also able to enjoy the Love to Food gastronomic area, which is growing in its third year, with the greatest participation of chefs, 5 chefs in total, all with Michelin stars; a large area of tables and chairs; and its own music stage.

Begoña Rodrigo, chef of the Restaurant La Salita (Valencia) with 1 Michelin Star and 3 Sol Repsol; Alejandra Herrador, chef of the Restaurant Atalaya (Alcossebre) with 1 Michelin Star and 2 Sol Repsol; Roseta Félix, chef of the Restaurant Fraula (Valencia) with 1 Michelin Star and 1 Sol Repsol; and Carito Lourenço and Germán Carrizo, chefs of the Restaurant Fierro (Valencia) with 1 Michelin Star and 1 Sol Repsol have been the protagonists of this year’s ‘Love to Food’ and have adapted their haute cuisine dishes to the portable format with the aim that the attendees eat well and with quality in the environment of a music festival, and at affordable prices too.

This is a unique venture in the Valencian Community and which is still uncommon regarding national festivals. It is a proposal that also aims to democratise haute cuisine and bring it closer to a music festival, where in addition to enjoying concerts, you can also eat very well.

On Friday, Begoña Rodrigo cooked fried chicken entremuslo, flavoured rice and collaret peanut sauce with pickled onion; and Thai stew of autumn root vegetables and mushrooms. Meanwhile, Germán Carrizó offered smoked vacuum empanada and braised vegetables; and choripán stuffed with cheese and seaweed chimichurri. On Saturday, Roseta Félix brought Indian bread stuffed with butter chicken and siracha mayonnaise; and fluid croquetón of potato and pico de gallo. By Alejandra Herrador, it was noodles in homemade Thai curry with mussels; and FacuTaco de Vermuda (cochinita pibil taco). And Carito Lourenço, repeated his partner Carrizo’s smoked vacuum empanada and braised vegetables; and Portbello Smash Brioche, with Chimichurri cheese.

On both days, Rebel.lia Selección Especial wine could be tasted on the menu; in the bar  by Maillard, a Valencian agency specialising in fire cooking,  a special Love to Rock hamburger, pastrami sandwich, vegetable coca and gourmet potatoes and the offer was also extended with a careful selection of food trucks.

To continue adding value to Love to Food, this year for the first time the area had its own programme on the Gastro Stage with DJ sessions and musical performances, which has added even more value to this area, making ‘Love to Food’ a very important and essential part essential part of the ‘Love to Rock’ programme.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team
Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’