Why You Probably Shouldn’t Order Paella When You Are in Spain
An Explanation of the Most Iconic (and Most Misunderstood) Dish in Spain
Let me start by saying that you can, and should, eat whatever the hell you want when you are in Spain or elsewhere. However, if your goal is to eat as well as possible while in Spain and to explore the local cuisine, you should probably stay away from paella. Let me explain why.
The Misunderstood Icon
There may not be a more iconic nor more misunderstood dish in Spain than paella. Outside of Spain, paella is often viewed as the national dish of Spain. And when non-Spaniards think of paella, they likely think of a rice dish adorned with massive, pinkish-orange prawns, mussels, and maybe even a couple of slices of chorizo thrown in there. However, the reality is paella is far from the national dish of Spain; it is an intensely regional dish. Furthermore, traditional paella is not even a seafood dish. So if paella is neither the national dish of Spain nor a seafood delight, what exactly is it?
A Brief History of Paella
Let’s start with a quick geography/linguistics/history lesson. Paella is the Valencian word for frying pan. Valencian is the traditional language spoken in the Community of…
