Paella on Sunday

[parchita]

I've been living in Andalucía for the past six months, first in Sevilla and now in Granada, and I often notice chalkboard signs outside restaurants announcing "Hoy paella" on Sunday afternoons. This past Sunday I was in Malaga, and when I passed yet another of these chalkboard signs, I decided it was time to finally have some Sunday paella.

Enjoying a plate of paella de marisco and a glass of manzanilla within sight of the sea has been one of the finest experiences of my time in Spain so far. And it got me wondering, what's up with the paella-on-Sunday phenomenon? A quick web search hasn't yielded much info beyond the fact that paella is traditionally served on Sunday, so I thought I'd throw the question out to the knowledgeable Notes from Spain Forum. Why is paella served on Sundays?

[zuri]

Why is paella served on Sundays?

The same reason people eat Turkey at xmas and Roast dinner on Sundays in the UK.

Having said that, my time in Malaga, i`ve not been out with Spanish friends eating Paella, to be honest its been me wanting it, rather than Spanish people.

It does tend to be a tourist thing though.

On a Sunday in my town, most are eating a selection of fish from Malaga, which is served on a large dish with all the types found in the region.

or

They tend to eat large plates of several types of fish or prawns.

If you go inland a few kms, you`ll find more meat type dishes, we recently went to puente don manuel , the starters were Prawns in Garlic butter, main I had Goat in Almond sauce, my wife had Solomillo and my kid had Chicken fillet, deserts I had poached pear in mint sauce, my wife had flan in whiskey and my kid Ice cream.

It was Sunday, very busy, and no fried fish or paella in sight.

[ValenciaSon]

I know it takes a while to cook paella and those who make it at home will cook it all day so maybe that is also why you see it offered on Sundays. My Dad will be making one for Mothers' Day which is 2 Sundays from now. It's been a while but he does a great paella.:thumbs-up:

[parchita]

I know it takes a while to cook paella and those who make it at home will cook it all day so maybe that is also why you see it offered on Sundays.

Ahh, now that makes sense. Thanks!

[AlMadrid]

Yo creo que lo normal es que la paella se ofrezca los jueves. La tradición dice que es debido a que Franco solía salir a cazar los jueves y le gustaba comer paella después, así que todos los restaurantes hacían paella por si acaso les tocaba a ellos servirle a Franco. Es lo que dice la tradición, ...la realidad ¿quién sabe? A lo mejor lo de las paellas los domingos lo has visto en sitios muy turísticos.

[zuri]

In Andalucia people who picnic are called Dominguero`s, they picnic any place from the campo to the Playa and lasts from late Am too early evening.

The picnic can be whatever you decide from Meats, fish, to Paella cooked on wood on the floor.

The important aspect is the company, the drink and plenty of food.

Paella takes around 30 minutes to an hour depending on size, no longer as it will become starchy.

The only reason its popular on Sundays is because its easy to cook for lots of people, tastes good and is easy to clean up.

Its the reason it started, in Valencia, cooked in the fields by farmers for lunch, its health, cheap and anything can be added.

[Finster]

I have found that the most important component of paella (ahead of the ingredients, the saffron, the sofrito, and the paella pan itself) is the hour and a half drinking wine with friends and family while you prepare it. By then everyone is starving as well as a little tipsy, and they will eat anything, heh.

[Berti]

I am not certain on this but believe that Spanish rice is cultivated in the region of Valencia.

I have never read any book on cooking paella that agree, and why should they every chef has their own story.
Here in my town there is only one very good "rice" place to eat. But as others have commented it is a very popular dish at weekends and definately provokes a fine siesta.
As rice is so versatile many, many recipes exist and (as regards commenting on how to prepare it) it pays to keep your trap shut: eg:

I enjoyed a lovely "arroz a la banda" in Alicante, it was prepared just as I had read in my food books, cut to Cádiz, house of an old sea salt from Galicia, Saturday afternoon : arroz a la banda in a completely different style and two courses, including fish fillets and potatoes.

I was thinking this is a "arroz a la banda" only in name, however I researched it and found that I was actually eating the authentic version.
I think it best just to have fun preparing Spanish rice, share it with your friends and enjoy the siesta!

[ValenciaSon]

Aqui lo tienes en 3 minutos:http://www.elcolmadito.com/Arte/MasProductos/arroz114.jpg

[ArualyEgroj]

:) you sould taste arroz con leche, is a dessert and is great...of course the best arroz con leche in the world is my mother´s.

[Patry.]

I know it takes a while to cook paella and those who make it at home will cook it all day so maybe that is also why you see it offered on Sundays.

Por esta razón en mi familia se comía cocido los domingos ;D mmm... qué rico :blush:

[Elvis]

Zuri wrote: It does tend to be a tourist thing though.I'd dispute that comment Zuri, paella round here (Alicante Province) is still a very popular dish for the locals.
In this particuar inland area, the ingredients are snails and rabbit, but seafood paella is also well liked.

Every region of Spain has it's own variety and 'special' way of preparing it.

Each year in September, our village hosts the Paella Gigante in the parque, with free paella (conejo y caracoles) for everyone, around 800 locals and their invited families attend.


NB: Wine, beer and anis pastis is also supplied free on the day, so there's no reason not to have a good time!:p

Not bad if you consider that my council tax is only 24€ per annum?

[zuri]

Zuri wrote: I'd dispute that comment Zuri, paella round here (Alicante Province) is still a very popular dish for the locals.

I based my opinion on a typical Spanish family and friends, only ever had Paella on a Sunday once with them.

My family and our friends tend to eat mostly fish, sometimes meat.

Last Sunday we went out for deep fried squid rings with beers, then home for roast chicken and salad followed by crema catalan.

The week before that we went out for Pescadito Frito from Malaga, basically a large plate of small illegally caught baby fish, deep fried in batter, washed down with beer, then we had Solomillo with peppers and chips.

The week before that we had Callo`s.

The weeks before that I can`t remember ;)

In the town I live there is only one place doin Paella, but they specialise in Arroz A La Banda, its relatively busy and some people do eat Paella, but there`s 7 chiringuito`s and many many restuarants in the town that don`t serve Paella, and they tend to be full.

So I based that at least in my part of Spain Paella isn`t top dog, in fact its easier to get Argentine steaks than Paella.

On the 6, 7 and 8th of June there`s the Feria de Tapa, its hosted every year, all the local bars cook Tapa`s under one big tent.

In 10 yrs I`ve never seen Paella cooked there, plenty of Flamenco and typical Malaga food though.

[Elvis]

I based my opinion on a typical Spanish family and friends, only ever had Paella on a Sunday once with them.Apologies for giving the impression that I meant Sundays particularly, I didn't.

The traditional local dish, that was probably once a staple, is gachamigas.
I'm not overly enamoured with it, or migas that they eat in Las Canarias!
I think maybe they cook it to remind themselves of the hard times and that they could revert back if the need ever arose.

No sir, the locals eat well these days, we're not far away from a few fishing ports and there's plenty of choice of meat and fish in the mercados and supermercados, as I'm sure there is throughout Spain.

A Murciano once told me that they don't eat many vegetables because it reminds them of the bad old days working in the huerta. Well that's all well and good, but not very healthy, IMO, but I suppose they make up for that with salads.

Callos!:mad:
Yukky yuk!
It's a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.:p

[zuri]

Callos!:mad:
Yukky yuk!
It's a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.:p


It helps if you don`t know what its made of.

My point being that Paella is a symbol of Spain, same as frogs legs in France, Roast Beef in England etc etc, but nope on a Sunday`s few Spaniards will be eating Paella, the food in Spain although peasant in origin and not complex, has many many other options.

[Elvis]

It helps if you don't know what its made of.Even if one didn't know what it's made with, the smell is usually enough to put most people off!:p

My point being that Paella is a symbol of Spain, same as frogs legs in France, Roast Beef in England etc etc, but nope on a Sunday`s few Spaniards will be eating Paella, the food in Spain although peasant in origin and not complex, has many many other options.I got your point, that's why I apologised.:rolleyes:

Telling me about the 'other options' is a bit like teaching your abuela how to suck eggs.:p
Considering the fact that the population of Spain is around the 45 million mark, I'd contest your claim that only a 'few' eat paella sometimes on Sundays.
I'd even bet that quite a few of the 60 million Brits could be found eating roast beef sometimes on Sundays.
As for the 70 million French and their cuisses de grenouille or escargot, I wouldn't know, but it's a fair guess that many of them do occasionally, on Sundays?

Maybe these guys are catering for foreigners only, considering that the restaurant is in Ma-bella (English pronunciation) on Sea?
http://www.marbellarestaurant.com/paella.htm

O aqui:
http://www.lapaella.net/web1/index.htm

[zuri]

Even if one didn't know what it's made with, the smell is usually enough to put most people off!:p

Really, maybe you shouldn`t eat there again.


Telling me about the 'other options' is a bit like teaching your abuela how to suck eggs.:pReally.

Are you a girl.


Considering the fact that the population of Spain is around the 45 million mark, I'd contest your claim that only a 'few' eat paella sometimes on Sundays.Well until we got official figures, you enjoy your opinion i`ll enjoy mine.



Maybe these guys are catering for foreigners only, considering that the restaurant is in Ma-bella (English pronunciation) on Sea?
http://www.marbellarestaurant.com/paella.htm

O aqui:
http://www.lapaella.net/web1/index.htmWell since their educating people on Paella, I`d assume so.

Would you like your eggs now or later.:rolleyes:

[Elvis]

Really, maybe you shouldn't eat there again.Where? :confused:
I'm talking about more than one venue!:rolleyes:

Really.

Are you a girl. :rolleyes: I gather you've never heard the English expression, "Teaching your grandmother how to suck eggs?"

Well until we got official figures, you enjoy your opinion I'll enjoy mine.Clever comment, as if that will ever happen.:rolleyes:
My first visit to Spain was in 1963, when was yours?


Well since their educating people on Paella, I'd assume so.It's they're, as in they are, not there or their and since when did paella deserve a capital C?

Would you like your eggs now or later.:rolleyes:I'll have them after I've taken my alzheimers tablets, if that's OK with you?:rolleyes:

Zuri, If you're Spanish, I can understand your problem, but if you're a long term Brit (with British passport) in Spain, your grasp of written English leaves much to be desired.

NB: The apostrophe (your choice) is best typed with the ? key untouched by the arrow/lift key that produces capital letters, or in this particular case, would produce the ?.

That's my free English lesson to you over for today.;)

[zuri]

Where? :confused:
I'm talking about more than one venue!:rolleyes:

I wouldn`t go back to them then.


:rolleyes: I gather you've never heard the English expression, "Teaching your grandmother how to suck eggs?"

In my part of the world we replace grandmother with anything you want, grandfather, father, mother etc etc.

Although your never to old too learn and my grandmother never learn`t to read or write, so I could teach her a few things.




My first visit to Spain was in 1963, when was yours?When I was born.

And my fathers bigger than yours.;)


It's they're, as in they are, not there or their and since when did paella deserve a capital C?Thank you for the correction, I will try yo remeber the rules in future.


Zuri, If you're Spanish, I can understand your problem, but if you're a long term Brit (with British passport) in Spain, your grasp of written English leaves much to be desired.I`m a brit, without brit passport, I`m also thick as s.....;)


That's my free English lesson to you over for today.;)Very useful, I`ll bear it in mind next teme.:rolleyes:

[ValenciaSon]

My TV is bigger than yours.

[eldeano]

How come you struggled with 'big' and 'doors' then?

[ValenciaSon]

How come you struggled with 'big' and 'doors' then? because you talk funny

[Elvis]

I wouldn't go back to them then.I don't.;)

In my part of the world we replace grandmother with anything you want, grandfather, father, mother etc etc.Where I came from, we found it difficult to replace grandmothers with anything.:p

Although your never to old too learnVery true, you're definitely never too old to learn, but for some it's apparently more difficult than for others.;)

and my grandmother never learn`t to read or write, so I could teach her a few things.I'm sure you could, but whatever you do, please don't attempt to teach her punctuation. Learned or learnt.
When I was born.There's a joke to be made about that, but I'm feeling benevolent today.;)

And my fathers bigger than yours.;);DI'm sure he is, mine was only 164cm tall when he was alive. His funeral was in 1976, so I imagine he's even shorter now.
My mum said she put horse manure in my clogs when I was a lad, that's how I grew to 185.
I know the joke that follows that, so don't bother.

Thank you for the correction, I will try yo remeber the rules in future.Glad to be of help, don't hesitate to ask if I can be of any further assistance!

I`m a Brit, without Brit passport,Lucky you, I don't want to renew mine, but as we don't have residencias any more, I'll have to. I'm also thick as s.....;)No you're not, you've just learned some bad habits and once they are committed to memory, they're hard to break!

Very useful, I'll bear it in mind next teme.:rolleyes:Try this page as a starter, if you want to:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/marks.htm

Or this one, but again, only if you want to:
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/punct.html

[parchita]

Oh my, boys! This discussion seems to have devolved a bit! ;) Bringing things back to my original post...

My next-door neighbors, who are from Almería and Huelva, invited my husband and I over to their house for dinner a few nights ago. As we were digging into some delightful traditional Spanish food — salmorejo and tortilla española — the conversation turned to the topic of culinary traditions.

My husband asked if there was a tradition of eating paella on Sunday, and all three Spaniards said yes, absolutely. Although they had no definitive answer as to why it's served on Sundays, they speculated — as a few posters on this thread have — that it's because paella is easy to make with whatever ingredients are on hand, and it can serve the kind of big family crowd that often gathers together on Sundays. In their families' homes, they said, this tradition is still very much in practice.

Another interesting food tradition they mentioned: making migas on cold, rainy winter days.

[Elvis]

I mentioned migas earlier, thinking it was a traditional dish of Las Canarias:
Elvis wrote: The traditional local dish, that was probably once a staple, is gachamigas.
I'm not overly enamoured with it, or migas that they eat in Las Canarias!I'm glad to hear it's not a dish confined to those islands.

[parchita]

I mentioned migas earlier, thinking it was a traditional dish of Las Canarias:
I'm glad to hear it's not a dish confined to those islands.

Migas seems to be a pretty standard tapa here in Granada. It's made with bread crumbs, whole garlic cloves, pimientos verdes and small chunks of various pork products. What's the migas in Las Canarias like?

[Elvis]

Migas seems to be a pretty standard tapa here in Granada. It's made with bread crumbs, whole garlic cloves, pimientos verdes and small chunks of various pork products. What's the migas in Las Canarias like?Sounds very similar, except I don't remember any green bits being in it.
Personally, I found it quite a boring dish, especially after 3 plates full, followed by an amazing Fiesta de Carne.

Why Canarians aren't all morbidly obese, is a mystery to me.:p

[zuri]

My TV is bigger than yours.

No I think you will find that my TV is the larger.

[zuri]

Very true, you're definitely never too old to learn, but for some it's apparently more difficult than for others.;)

When I written my book, will you proof read for me.;)

[zuri]

Try this page as a starter, if you want to:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/marks.htm

Or this one, but again, only if you want to:
http://www.arts.uottawa.ca/writcent/hypergrammar/punct.html

Those will be handy when I write my book then, but for now I`m happy to write here as lazy as a pig in the mud, thanxs.

[zuri]

Oh my, boys! This discussion seems to have devolved a bit! ;) Bringing things back to my original post...


Sorry, we seem to have forgotten than content is more important.:rolleyes:

[zuri]

Down near me in Torrox, Axarquia they celebrate the Migas day on the Sunday before Christmas.

In 2007 we watched Andi Y Lucas in concert.

They cook in the town sq and serve to the waiting people.

The Andulucians state they invented Migas, although it is found all over Spain.

I get my from the local spit roast chicken take away around the corner, they do great snails as well.

[Elvis]

When I written write my book, will you proof read for me.;)[/i]It would be a pleasure!

im a gud prufe reeder, probibli one of the bets ther is at the prise.

[zuri]

It would be a pleasure!

im a gud prufe reeder, probibli one of the bets ther is at the prise.

I`ll bear that in mind, although I would pay you for the quality work you`d provide.;)

[eldeano]

because you talk funny

It's called English.

[eldeano]

My TV is bigger than yours.

Your TV's bigger than my house.

[Elvis]

I'll bear that in mind, although I would pay you for the quality work you'd provide.;)Consider it a done deal, but I won't hold my breath waiting.;)



NB: The correct 'apostophe' to use, is the one below the '?'

Not ´ or `, they're only for use as accents.


:blush: My apology, I forgot you told me earlier that you're not interested.

[Andy.G.]

Hacer buenas migas con alguien (to make good crumbs with someone) or to get along well with someone.;D


me parece que muchos refranes tiene que ver con comida ¿no?

[zuri]

:blush: My apology, I forgot you told me earlier that you're not interested.

I told you that about 3 months ago, the last time you reverted to childish tactics in a discussion.:rolleyes:

[Elvis]

I told you that about 3 months ago, the last time you reverted to childish tactics in a discussion.:rolleyes:I fully understand why someone with a problem he knows he has, finds it easier to turn on someone who offers help.

[zuri]

I fully understand why someone with a problem he knows he has, finds it easier to turn on someone who offers help.

Did you offer help with the intention of helpin though.

[Elvis]

Did you offer help with the intention of helping though.?What does it look like so far to you?

Too many people feel that someone is taking the Mickey when they try to help.

You're an intelligent person, take it whichever way you like.

[zuri]

You're an intelligent person, take it whichever way you like.

I like watchin the little red lines and reading people correcting obvious mistakes.;D

Do you study Psycologhy.;)

[Elvis]

Do you study Psycologhy.;)You must try harder.;)

[zuri]

You must try harder.;)

This the best i got:(

[Elvis]

I have a Concise Oxford Dictionary within reach, atop my printer.

At my age, the brain is slowing down somewhat, the spelling lessons my mum gave me from age four are but distant memories and learning Spanish (badly) hasn't helped with English spelling.

There are lots of free, Online Dictionaries, Encyclopaedias, Translators and Thesaurus, (http://www.google.es/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefreedictionary.com%2F&ei=AkpASNTMG5SWwAHZ15y0CA&usg=AFQjCNHnFGrwNPuyRpMi3jm7AJe-G-7WTw&sig2=zKynxPJocKZHYZeklev_3w) as I'm sure you already know.
That's not a link BTW, but good old google has plenty.

[ValenciaSon]

It's called English.Not where I'm from:rolleyes:

[ValenciaSon]

No I think you will find that my TV is the larger.I doubt it. I'm not the only here that doubts it. I guess anything is possible but in this case I doubt it.

[zuri]

I doubt it. I'm not the only here that doubts it. I guess anything is possible but in this case I doubt it.

I think you`ll find mine is bigger than everything you own and everybody elses.;)












P.S.I`m joking.