Brilliant article Kiki. I'm glad they decided to give the dish a protected status, well deserved! I have never tried paella because I'm vegetarian, but I remember being on a school trip in Barcelona and finding myself in front of a huge pan filled with rice and giant dead shrimps... I was horrified 😆 my classmates didn't really know what to do either! If only teachers had taken the time to tell us about the dish and its cultural significance we'd all have been much more appreciative. That's why writing and sharing about food is so important 🙏🏼
Thanks, Sinù! That’s a great point about learning the cultural significance of a dish. So often we think something is “gross” or “weird” from another culture, but with a little bit of background we may be more understanding (even if we would never eat it ourselves). I will say, though, that when I first moved here I had to get used to being served fish whole, with the head still attached! Going to the fish markets here was similarly disturbing at first. I’ve gotten (mostly) used to it now, but I can imagine happening upon the fish counter while browsing the fruit and veggie stands in a local market is not the most fun thing for a vegetarian!
I love it and David makes the best! The first time I had this is when I came to Spain and stayed with you two! It was the best thing I had ever ate besides the sweets 😂
I agree it’s delicious! I’m scheming to add it to our meal plan for this weekend because after all of the reading and writing about it now I want to eat it!
I thought I had paella, but I think it was just rice with stuff. I loved this piece! I think the paella Gregg and I stumbled upon in Provence had shrimp and mussels?
Haha rice with stuff is still delicious! Based on your description, it actually could have been a version of arroz a banda, which according to Wikipaella is an authentic paella. So maybe you did have paella after all!
Brilliant article Kiki. I'm glad they decided to give the dish a protected status, well deserved! I have never tried paella because I'm vegetarian, but I remember being on a school trip in Barcelona and finding myself in front of a huge pan filled with rice and giant dead shrimps... I was horrified 😆 my classmates didn't really know what to do either! If only teachers had taken the time to tell us about the dish and its cultural significance we'd all have been much more appreciative. That's why writing and sharing about food is so important 🙏🏼
Thanks, Sinù! That’s a great point about learning the cultural significance of a dish. So often we think something is “gross” or “weird” from another culture, but with a little bit of background we may be more understanding (even if we would never eat it ourselves). I will say, though, that when I first moved here I had to get used to being served fish whole, with the head still attached! Going to the fish markets here was similarly disturbing at first. I’ve gotten (mostly) used to it now, but I can imagine happening upon the fish counter while browsing the fruit and veggie stands in a local market is not the most fun thing for a vegetarian!
I love it and David makes the best! The first time I had this is when I came to Spain and stayed with you two! It was the best thing I had ever ate besides the sweets 😂
I agree it’s delicious! I’m scheming to add it to our meal plan for this weekend because after all of the reading and writing about it now I want to eat it!
I thought I had paella, but I think it was just rice with stuff. I loved this piece! I think the paella Gregg and I stumbled upon in Provence had shrimp and mussels?
Haha rice with stuff is still delicious! Based on your description, it actually could have been a version of arroz a banda, which according to Wikipaella is an authentic paella. So maybe you did have paella after all!
I have...many times. Here is the one I was first introduced to and still make. https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2018/12/26/uncle-alphonsos-no-fuss-paella
Thanks so much for sharing, Kate!
I love the article!!!
Definitely one of my absolute favorite things to eat. And to cook (even though it can be frustrating sometimes)!
The frustration is worth the final product (says the person who does more of the eating than the cooking on this particular dish)!