Paella

[Caligal]

So, I’m watching tv and commerical comes on for Ancestery DNA, the pie chart shows the guy to be 28% Spanish, the graphic is a waiter serving him one of those beauitful paellas I enjoyed on the Camino. I could eat one right now, if only!!

 

[Robert Long]

I have a friend who is Colombian and makes the best Paella I have ever eaten -- or so I thought. Twice on the CF I had Paella to dream of; once at a golf course and once in a restaurant off the beaten track and better than my friend's.

I also had the worst Paella ever. Be aware of the Paella served in squares that is advertised on a sandwich board, along with pizza, etc., out front. It is frozen and it is awful.

Buen Camino

 

[C clearly]

I have had and enjoyed sandwich-board paella. I look around carefully to check if there are any sophisticated foodies watching. Like frozen pizza and other prepared foods they can still "hit the spot" for a hungry pilgrim!

 

[Chris Gi]

I have a friend who is Colombian and makes the best Paella I have ever eaten -- or so I thought. Twice on the CF I had Paella to dream of; once at a golf course and once in a restaurant off the beaten track and better than my friend's.

I also had the worst Paella ever. Be aware of the Paella served in squares that is advertised on a sandwich board, along with pizza, etc., out front. It is frozen and it is awful.

Buen Camino

I agree - They taste like they came straight out of a box and amazingly - would just take 10 minutes to arrive at your table - that alone makes one very suspicious!

 

[Icacos]

..... I look around carefully to check if there are any sophisticated foodies watching.

@C clearly, I do not consider myself a foodie by any stretch of the imagination, sophisticated or otherwise, but I know what paella can taste like, and the stuff I had in Los Arcos - even though I was very hungry - was extremely disappointing. But I admire you for being undemanding and grateful for what you got. A good pilgrim, you.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have a friend who is Colombian and makes the best Paella I have ever eaten -- or so I thought. Twice on the CF I had Paella to dream of; once at a golf course and once in a restaurant off the beaten track and better than my friend's.

I also had the worst Paella ever. Be aware of the Paella served in squares that is advertised on a sandwich board, along with pizza, etc., out front. It is frozen and it is awful.

Buen Camino

Agree, the frozen pre-made paella fills the tummy, but nothing else.

 

[Kosmos]

Just do it!!!

 

[Arn]

To be honest...I have to be in the mood for Paella. Then again, I am always in the mood for food.

 

[hel&scott]

I found that the best paella were usuall served in truck stops for lunch, bright yellow with green peas, no chicken and often very little seafood, but hot and tastey and just what you and the other labourers need.

My most memorable paella was cooked on the banks of the river outside the alburgue in Najera, i had a forced rest day due to the state of my feet and got to soak my feet and watch them cook enormous paella for the pilgrims arriving that day, turns out the celebrate Scotts birthday (19 Sept) in a big way in Spain.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

In my opinion, the best paella on the Camino is served at Casa Barrunta in San Nicolas del Real Camino, smack in the middle of the Meseta. The hosts are native to Spain's rice region, and they know their stuff! There are several kinds to choose from.
It takes a while to make, it's not cheap, and you need at least two or three people to order one. But oooh, when they bring that big pan to the table...! Wow!

 

[C clearly]

But I admire you for being undemanding and grateful for what you got. A good pilgrim, you.

An alternative explanation is that I have no taste . When I order one of those cheap paellas, my expectations are minimal.

 

[kdespot]

I have had and enjoyed sandwich-board paella. I look around carefully to check if there are any sophisticated foodies watching. Like frozen pizza and other prepared foods they can still "hit the spot" for a hungry pilgrim!

What DOESN"T hit the spot for a hungry pilgrim???

 

[Davey Boyd]

In my opinion, the best paella on the Camino is served at Casa Barrunta in San Nicolas del Real Camino, smack in the middle of the Meseta. The hosts are native to Spain's rice region, and they know their stuff! There are several kinds to choose from.
It takes a while to make, it's not cheap, and you need at least two or three people to order one. But oooh, when they bring that big pan to the table...! Wow!

Yes. I always stop there, even though I have to often talk other pilgrims into stopping with me so we can order one!

 

[Davey Boyd]

What DOESN"T hit the spot for a hungry pilgrim???

Pulpo. It's gross!

 

[Caligal]

After reading replies i would like to say my 2 favorite paellas were both as a communal meal one at El Alfar in Hornillos, the other Casa Rosalia in Castrojeriz and the place and people i shared it with was what made it soooo good!

 

[Icacos]

In my opinion, the best paella on the Camino is served at Casa Barrunta in San Nicolas del Real Camino, smack in the middle of the Meseta. The hosts are native to Spain's rice region, and they know their stuff! There are several kinds to choose from.
It takes a while to make, it's not cheap, and you need at least two or three people to order one. But oooh, when they bring that big pan to the table...! Wow!

Yes. I always stop there, even though I have to often talk other pilgrims into stopping with me so we can order one!

I just checked their website. They're open 6:00 - 10:00 with no mention of time out for siesta. So a visit any time of the day should work. I'll definitely keep that in mind for when I walk the meseta next time. And if I offer to treat, there should be no trouble finding one or two pilgrims to stop with me. Not so !?

Please tell me it is cooked with saffron ....

 

[rick1977]

Authentic paella is brown, not bright yellow. The latter is food coloring. And it's all about the rice, both texture and taste, sadly something you don't get at all in one of those frozen, pre-made versions. Love these two related websites:

http://en.wikipaella.org/

http://en.seisrecetasdepaellavalenciana.com/

 

[loumura]

Yes. I always stop there, even though I have to often talk other pilgrims into stopping with me so we can order one!

Do you know if it's possible to order paella without any meat? also, will it be very difficult for a vegan to eat on the do Costa trail?

 

[Davey Boyd]

Do you know if it's possible to order paella without any meat? also, will it be very difficult for a vegan to eat on the do Costa trail?

I've no idea to be honest, I know they make it fresh there though. As for being vegan on camino I know many vegans have walked the way and there are a few threads on this forum about it. Try a search and see what you come up with.

Best wishes
Davey

 

[RJM]

After reading replies i would like to say my 2 favorite paellas were both as a communal meal one at El Alfar in Hornillos, the other Casa Rosalia in Castrojeriz and the place and people i shared it with was what made it soooo good!

Yes, I stayed at Al Afar in Hornillos. That was a very lovely communal meal I had there and some good homemade paella.

 

[Wupatki]

Authentic paella is brown, not bright yellow. The latter is food coloring. And it's all about the rice, both texture and taste, sadly something you don't get at all in one of those frozen, pre-made versions. Love these two related websites:

http://en.wikipaella.org/

http://en.seisrecetasdepaellavalenciana.com/

Saffron isn't food coloring. You can make paella without it, as I often do, but its use is what distinguishes paella from arroz con pollo.

 

[rick1977]

Saffron isn't food coloring.

Right. Who said it was? The bright yellow color to frozen, pre-made paella comes from food coloring, not saffron. There are a bunch of things, not just the use of saffron, that distinguish paella from arroz con pollo. Two distinct dishes.