But with this meal, the paella was cooked perfectly, and the flavors were incredibly savory. The paella had a lot of squid and other fish mixed into it, and the lemon they put on top added that sour taste that was absolutely delicious. The local next to me showed me how to eat the sardines we ordered and the technique was to hold the fish with two hands and bite the sardine gently because you don't want to chew on the bone. We ate this meal sitting on a quiet beach on a day when the weather was perfect and following a really stressful week. Eating freshly prepared Spanish food with locals was a necessary reset for me.
The paella was prepared on a large skillet outside and next to the restaurant. Additionally, they had a separate grill to roast the freshly caught fish. They were adding some of the fish to the paella or putting it on a plate as a stand-alone dish. I was talking to the cook, who was outside, managing the prepration and cooking. He was from Venezuela and had been working at the restaurant for quite a long time. The cook told me how his life in Spain would probably be a better option than if he were to live in the U.S.A. because you can live on more for less here in Spain. Since my meal cost me about €20 ($22) when counting my main dish, drink and tapa I was inclined to agree with him. And tipping isn’t even expected, here!
