His first night in Valencia, Michelin-starred chef Bernd Knöller didn’t think he’d grow old here. More than 30 years later, he’s still here, and he tells us what living in Valencia is really like.
On the first episode of THE NOW EDIT, Antoanetta sits down with Bernd Knöller, the German chef behind RiFF (Michelin star since 2009), to talk about how Valencia changed, what foreigners get wrong about the city, and why he never wanted to leave.
We cover the three conditions that started his career, the years when Valencia had almost no tourists, the 4:30 pm fish auction at the port where he buys his fish, why Valencia isn’t the city for flamenco or tapas, the truth about Fallas, and where a Michelin chef actually eats.
Whether you live in Valencia, are moving to Spain, or just love food and good stories, this one’s for you.
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00 Cold open
00:43 Meeting Bernd
01:02 Three conditions & the plastic flowers
03:33 His first impression of Valencia
05:35 How tourism changed Valencia
08:39 What’s still hard about living in Valencia
11:46 Michelin cooking: quality vs. price
16:59 What Valencia diners taught him
19:51 Why he took down the kitchen wall
22:20 Renovation & “healthy stress”
24:53 Inside Valencia’s 4:30 pm fish auction
28:33 His daily Valencia ritual
30:26 The Valencia spot people overlook: Bioparc
32:43 What people moving to Valencia should know
33:23 Flamenco, tapas & Fallas: expectations vs. reality
36:16 Where a Michelin chef eats in Valencia
38:10 Why Valencia fits him: the box of oranges
40:33 Did he ever want to leave?
42:16 RIFF’s returning guests & ever-changing menu
📍 PLACES MENTIONED
RiFF (Bernd’s restaurant): https://restaurante-riff.com
Ca Pepico, Meliana (his paella pick)
Ruzanuvol, Ruzafa (where he spends Fallas)
Bioparc Valencia
Mercado Central
16 Toneladas (live music venue)
🎙 ABOUT THE NOW EDIT
Conversations with the people who make Valencia and Spain worth choosing. Hosted by Antoanetta.
Tell us in the comments: what did you expect from Valencia that turned out completely different?
FREE — The Valencia Neighbourhood Scorecard
Everything I’d check before committing to a move here, in one page.
👉 https://antoanettanow….
💬 WORK WITH ME
One-to-one relocation consultations for people seriously considering Valencia.
👉 https://antoanettanow….
💍 ANTOANETTA JEWELRY
I’ve been designing jewellery for twenty years — the pieces I wear in this video are my own.
www.antoanetta.com
LETS CONNECT
▶️ Instagram: @antoanettanow
📩 Business & partnerships: info@antoanetta.com
🔴 Subscribe to my channel for more: https://youtube.com/antoanetta?sub_co…
#Valencia #LivingInSpain #TheNowEdit
source
