Jules Heartly | August 2023 

Sometimes One goes out without an apparent set intention, and the universe fulfills the inner one, and usually does it in interesting ways.  As you all know, I love finding stories that stay with me, warm my heart and pick my brain so I can also tease yours.  

Well, this was one of those occasions.  As a cycling follower enthusiast, I was checking the stages of La Vuelta 2023 (Spain main cycling event) and I noticed the stage #5 was departing from a small mountain-hill town, known as one of  the “ top 100 most beautiful villages in the country of Spain, and one of the most beautiful towns in Castellon and the whole of Valencia, Morella.    

My friend Monica, a native of the Valencian community, confirmed the statement: “ It is a hidden gem!  You  must go!” she said during one of our beach walks. 

I set myself to go, curiosity high, especially because Morella, is an ancient walled city and I always find those types of surviving constructions interesting. 

My friends and I arrived on a Monday morning, thinking of avoiding the tourist horde that most likely would crowd the streets on weekends.  But we were wrong! The crowds had arrived even before we did, as we realized when searching for a parking spot. 

I did my usual thing of stopping by the tourist office to get a local map and some tips on how to best visit the town.  The fast-speaking lady at the counter told me right before I left it,  “Make sure to make a reservation for lunch!  It is Monday, some restaurants are closed and we have a large number of visitors today!”.   

And she was right! As I set myself to make reservations, the first restaurant from the list was “closed for the day”.  I went down the list and there was one particular one that caught my attention: Daluan restaurant  I called them, and to my dismay I was informed there were fully booked!  “We are just three people,” I hustled.  

The plea worked!  I was accommodated at a much much later hour. “Let’s hope it is worth the wait.  Should we even wait that long?” my companions commented. 

And the answer to that question is what brought me to write this blog. 

As we were visiting the town for the very first time, we didn’t know much about the gastronomy it had to offer and neither we knew anything about the location of the restaurant I had chosen, Daluan.

And of course, I had no idea,  that tucked away amidst the picturesque streets of Morella, Spain, lies a gastronomic heaven, owned by Chef Avelino Ramos and Jovita Amela.  Something I found out after savoring the delicious food made with local fresh ingredients,  and the substantial  wine list offered to us during our late lunch, which  triggered my  wanting to find out who was the chef behind such creations.

The Chef Avelino, himself, came out from his cooking quarters to tell us a little bit about himself, the restaurant history and the philosophy behind what it is today: 

 A story and a place that  bears testimony to the transformative power of a simple yet revolutionary idea…

Embracing Life’s True Flavor: Chef Avelino’s Culinary Revolution

Avelino’s story begins with a meteoric rise to fame. In 2007, Chef Avelino Ramos embarked on a culinary journey.  DALUAN’s doors swung open, and within a short span, the accolades started pouring in, crowned by the coveted Michelin star. The culinary world applauded his finesse, innovation, and unrelenting passion for the art of gastronomy. 

However, the very success that propelled him to culinary stardom began to cast its shadow, threatening the equilibrium of his life, and the lives of his loyal workforce.

The demands of a relentless industry started to cast their toll. The once-celebrated work culture began to strain, and Avelino witnessed some of his high-earning workers departing, chasing elusive promises of greener pastures. It was this moment of introspection that ignited a spark of change within Avelino’s culinary heart.

Refusing to compromise on the excellence that had become synonymous with DALUAN, Avelino embarked on an audacious experiment – one that defied conventional wisdom. He decided to prioritize two often-neglected facets: customer and worker satisfaction. 

With a conviction that quality should never waver, Avelino resolved to elevate high-end cuisine and impeccable customer service to new heights while simultaneously reclaiming the balance that had eluded him for too long.

The notion was simple but profound: To cultivate a culinary sanctuary where exceptional cuisine was intricately woven with contented hearts. 

Avelino dialed back the never-ending  7-day-a-week cycle, a rhythm that had become relentless. Instead, he embraced the notion of a restaurant that breathed, that pulsated with life. An oasis of taste where the culinary creations were an extension of the fulfilled lives of those who crafted them.

With unwavering determination, Avelino struck a harmonious chord between culinary excellence and life’s other pleasures. DALUAN’s doors swung open five days a week for lunch , and dinners only on weekends.  This schedule shift   freed  not only himself but also his dedicated workforce,  to savor the richness of life outside their professional realm. And the world watched as the restaurant began to flourish anew.

Today, as Avelino walks through the charming streets of Morella, he bears the smile of a visionary who has found the elusive grail of true success. 

DALUAN thrives, its tables laden with gastronomic delights that continue to captivate the palates of its patrons. And the secret to this success? It’s not an elaborate marketing campaign or a meticulously strategized social media presence. It’s the pure, unadulterated essence of client satisfaction, shared through the most potent form of endorsement – word of mouth.

“I’ve realized that when we find balance in our lives, it inevitably flavors everything we touch,” Avelino Ramon shares with a gleam in his eyes. His philosophy echoes through every dish served, through every interaction within the restaurant’s walls. DALUAN has evolved into more than a mere culinary destination; it’s a sanctuary where life’s full spectrum is celebrated.

Chef Avelino’s journey is a reminder that beneath the shimmering surface of Michelin stars and culinary fame lies a deeper essence, an essence that yearns for connection, contentment, and an unwavering devotion to craft. As the world looks on, Chef Avelino continues to stir the cauldron of his culinary wizardry, seasoned not just with exquisite flavors, but also with the wisdom of a man who discovered that fame may be fleeting, but a life well-balanced can be savored forever.

I walked the hilly stone streets of Morella and I enjoyed the town, and it’s beautiful views.

 We ate at the restaurant terrace enjoying the natural Air conditioned  brought by the afternoon breeze.  “Would you come back here?”  my friends asked, and I said at a heartbeat, “ I would come if only to savor again, the delicious and healthy food creations Chef Avelino has to offer at the Daluan Restaurant.  And believe me,  I would do it! 

Have you unexpectedly found a place like this during one of your trips?  An unplanned journey the universe brought you to? I bet you had.  Feel free to share your story via comments on this blog.   

Thank you for reading my blog. 

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