Paella Party!

According to the late Penelope Casas, author of the original, definitive English-language cookbook on Spanish cuisine "The Foods & Wines of Spain", Paella is among the best known and most beloved dishes in the world. It transforms rice, the sustenance of at least half the world’s population, into a brilliantly complex and exceedingly baroque creation. Yet, according to Casas, what passes for paella in most restaurants outside of Spain is a sorry imitation of the true, glorious dish that originated in Valencia. For this event, we are going to pay respect to this wonderful Spanish creation with a complete Spanish menu, the centerpiece of which will be an authentic “Paella a la Valenciana”.

The most traditional way to prepare paella is outdoors over a wood-burning fire. This method provides the most even heat and produces the socarrat, the golden crust of rice that forms on the bottom of the paella pan and is considered the most desirable part of the paella. We will prepare ours this way, as my paella pan just happens to be a perfect fit for my Big Green Egg smoker/grill. Not only will it give us the even heat we need to form the socarrat but it will impart a delicious, slightly smokey flavor to the dish.

In addition to cooking our paella in the most authentic way, we will also be using the most authentic and highest quality ingredients, starting with the best and most expensive short grain rice for paella, "Bomba", grown in the eastern plains of Spain. We will be using the highest quality saffron, imported straight from a small family farm in Spain. Plus imported Spanish chorizo. Organic chicken. Live clams and mussels. And chemical-free shrimp and lobster tails.

Menu

Escarole Salad with a Dressing of Tomato, Cumin and Smoked Spanish Paprika

Pan-fried Whole Fresh Sardines with a Sweet-Salty Ham-and-Raisin Stuffing

Paella a la Valencia (cooked outdoors over an oak wood fire)

Creme Brulee with a Spanish Flavor

We will work together in small teams to prepare each of these dishes. Recipes and cooking tips will be provided, and everyone will have the opportunity to contribute to making at least one of the dishes, and more if desired.

The $35.00 RSVP fee secures your spot and covers the cost of ingredients to make all of the dishes listed above. It does not cover wine however. Please bring your beverage of choice, and if you intend to drink the wine provided by others at the event then bring some yourself to share. The RSVP fee is non-refundable unless this meetup is cancelled or rescheduled, so be sure you can commit to attending when you sign up.

In order to ensure that there is enough paella for everybody, this event will be limited to 4 spots only. RSVP's will close at noon the day prior to the event.

The weather on August 3rd should be beautiful, so we should be able to cook this entire meal in the outdoor kitchen and enjoy it on the patio beside the pool. So join us for the opportunity to participate in this culinary journey to Valencia, Spain!