There are restaurants that line almost every street here with menus advertising their "famous" paella, but it is easy to get tricked! The locals will let you know that you have to find the smaller places, outside the touristy areas to get the really good paella. Each dish features beautiful rice which is usually bright yellow, but recently I have seen different types with black rice. Once you get to the restaurant they have a selection of types of paella, but it's hard to get some without a certain ingredient or to add something because they are cooked traditionally in a large pan in order to share.
I was super excited to try traditional paella for the first time. Before I came to Sevilla, I had tried paella made by a family friend after her stay in northern Spain, and she joked that every region of the country claims to have "the best" paella. I am a little biased, but I do believe that Sevilla has the best...
When eating I thought of the tradition of sharing the dish with family, friends and colleagues, and how important this dish has been for spaniards. The dish was delicious and I remember being disappointed when I had finished it. I ordered a traditional paella with chicken, beans, green beans, peppers and tomatoes. I was so surprised when my chicken came out of the rice as chicken wings. They were so yummy, but I had no idea that was how they were normally cooked. The spices are also incredibly delicious. Often when I make rice for dinner in my room, I use a paella spice packet to add more flavor.
