The Best Paella comes from Spain, but anyone near Borough Market in London on June 5th, can sample authentic Paella when Valencian chefs cook Valencia's national dish.
It's impossible to get a good paella outside Spain. In fact, even in Spain it can be hard to find a good paella outside the province of Valencia, the home of the famous rice dish coloured with saffron and chock full of prawns, rabbit, and chicken.
The best paella I've ever had was one cooked al fresco on a fire made from rosemary twigs, the smoky aroma from which drifted into the open pan and flavoured the dish. Of course, it may have tasted exceptionally good as it was accompanied by delicious Valencian red wine.
Now, Londoners and visitors to London will have a chance to sample the real thing when a posse of Valencian chefs come to Borough Market in London, on Thursday 5th June, to cook paella in a three metre diameter pan, over a wood fire. This is part of the Taste of Spain Festival in the Green Market area of Borough Market.
Last year they served more than 1000 visitors. This year's there should be more. The paella will use more than 60 kilos of rice, 75 kilos of chicken, and 50 kilos of vegetables and preparations will begin at 4 p.m. for those who want to watch and learn how to cook the perfect paella. From 6 p.m. everyone is welcome to roll up and try it for free. Be sure to get there early to beat the queues.
And it's not only paella that's on offer. There will be typical products from the Valencia Region, wines and sausages from Requena, tiger nut milk (the famous horchata, a mix of water, sugar and ground tiger nuts also known as earth almonds) , plus the delicious Christmas nougat, turron. There will also be food and drink from other parts of Spain. Not to be missed.
