Sunday extended family gatherings in Valencia = paella making. This family had a beautiful garden with a little hut for cooking paella, and here, the father is demonstrating how to add the rice at the right time. Valencian orange wood for the fire, evenly distributing heat under the entire pan. This giant paella dish made plenty for 12 people with leftovers to be enjoyed later.
My mother in law bought me these pans years ago but I dont think I still have them. It's funny though. Because last night while eating out with a friend we were talking about Paella! I have never made it but it is on my bucket list of things to cook. I love the whole series of photos. They give a good sense of place and purpose.
@quietpurplehaze@joansmor@allie912 -- thanks for your comments! It was a delicious meal, all the more because i watched it cooking and because it was shared with a lovely family who warmly welcomed me into their home for the afternoon.
@pusspup -- my motto when I travel and especially in people's homes is to try everything! Chew, swallow, and smile.
@darylo -- you would have loved watching the entire process, no doubt. And guess who brought home a new paella pan, Spanish rice, Vera Paprika, Spanish saffron, garrofón beans, etc. The Valencians take their paella seriously -- they are the original home of paella.
Wonderful image of the paella cooking. My closest friend Ana Mari was Spanish from Estepona, Costa del Sol and their paella was completely different from the Valencia version. They were very poor in that region and they used cheaper ingredients but it tasted fabulous! One of my favourite meals to be cooked over fire and eaten with the extended family. Huge fav for your great capture !
I can only say -- in addition to the beautiful photo -- that I hope to be there to test out all that you brought back. AND, to volunteer to help in any way I can!!
Looks so yummy. We were only talking this evening about Spanish paella cooked over the fire on the beach in Nerja by an elderly gentleman George, who wore cardboard around his shins to protect them from the heat. His paella was amazing. The way you have captured this is so lifelike.
@tonygig@moonmtn@featherstone26@johnfalconer@agedrunner@taffy@rookynook -- thank you all for taking time to view the paella making! It was a completely memorable afternoon, from the paella to the family togetherness (they were preparing for an upcoming wedding, trying on dresses) to being in their beautiful home and garden. Memories of visiting people in other countries rarely give us such opportunities of being part of a family, and I treasure the time I had with them. Now that I have brought home the essential ingredients for making paella (yes, the paella pan had to be hand-carried onto the airplane!), I have to convince my husband that he would like to make it for us :) (Yes, Taffy, that includes the whole family that lives in our house . . .)
How marvellous to be part of such a wonderful family experience amongst the locals. That's what I enjoy most when overseas. And that looks like such a good paella. Wonder what happened to our paella pan?? Mmmm.
@pusspup -- my motto when I travel and especially in people's homes is to try everything! Chew, swallow, and smile.
@darylo -- you would have loved watching the entire process, no doubt. And guess who brought home a new paella pan, Spanish rice, Vera Paprika, Spanish saffron, garrofón beans, etc. The Valencians take their paella seriously -- they are the original home of paella.