The origin
An idea brought from home
Mario Tarroni left Ravenna and opened L'Alquimista in Russafa in 2009, alongside his mother. It started as a small fresh pasta shop, with the idea of sharing in Valencia the cooking he grew up with.
The name plays on the word alchemist: at the door, the place calls itself il mago della pasta, the wizard of the dough. Because turning flour and egg into something that moves you has a touch of magic to it.
The craft
Everything in plain sight, everything by hand
The pasta and the sauces are made the same day, in an open kitchen you can see from the street. The flour comes milled from a village near Ravenna, the one that gives the right Romagna texture.
That is where the pasta alla chitarra comes from, cut on a frame of strings where the rolling pin presses the dough as on an instrument. It is slow, it is handmade and you can taste it on the plate.
The character
No stars, plenty of soul
We are not after guides or sauces meant to impress. We want the pasta to taste of Italy and the table to feel like a friend's home. A few tables, a warm welcome and wine that is worth it.
It is the place the Italians of Valencia send anyone who wants to eat for real. And, twelve years on, we still knead with the same eagerness as on day one.
“Just cooking, pasta, piadina and wine, no speculation. A good smile and a bit of character.”
The spirit of L'Alquimista
2009
Since day one
Ravenna
The home of the kitchen
By hand
Pasta made every day
4.6
Average rating