Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Paella- NOT!


Paella. I remember eating it on a family vacation in Spain many years back. It was a show stopper. It’s the kind of dish that was talked about for years to follow. So naturally, I wanted to recreate that experience.

I knew we were going to host Eric’s sister and her family for a  week – I thought, what a perfect time to WOW them with Paella. A week before their arrival, I spent hours online researching recipes. Weeding through countless YouTube and Food Network videos. Finally- two recipes I liked. I loved Bobby Flay’s ingredients and Tyler Florence’s method. In true Azra fashion, I would combine them and make it my own!

I had it all planned out- I was going to make Paella on Friday! I can’t tell you how excited I was-  I was finally going to use my Paella pan for what is was designed for Paella. I had previously been using the pan for just about everything else, I was in love with that pan!


I had envisioned spending hours creating this masterpiece. Enthusiastically presenting the fully loaded pan to my wide eyed table. Follow by accolades of “OHHHHH’S” &“AHHHH’s” and of course applause!


Wednesday, two days before, I went to one of the local Hen House market. I knew Hen house had a great Sea Food counter. I bought mussels ß I was pleasantly at the price for 2 lbs. I bought one clam, that’s all they had. I got Scallops, cod fillets and shrimp. I also picked up the boneless chicken thighs and andouille sausage. I drove home beaming with my seafood finds. All together a little pricey, to me well worth it.

Thursday, one day before, I called another Hen House branch to see if they had clam. They did! Over lunch, I picked up the clams and 4 lobster tails. I double checked my list and also bought Saffron ß $18.00 for like a few strands. Again, worth every penny.


Friday, all day I talked about how I was to embark on this culinary journey. Showing pictures to colleagues and telling them how amazing this will be. I left work early.

Walked straight into the kitchen and started prepping. I got Ben and Fiona involved- as they enjoyed watching the clams and mussels blow bubbles as I submerged them into water to have them purge. I spent a total of three hours scrubbing, chopping, rinsing, mincing and dicing. Eric would periodically walk into the kitchen to “check things out” and to tell me he loves me and retreat back into the office. During one brief visit to the kitchen he said to me “ You should make it in two batches, it’s not all going to fit into that pan.” Annoyed with him, I hissed back “YES IT WILL!!” Once everything was prepped, I arranged everything nicely on the counter to snap a picture. I posted it on Facebook with the caption ‘ Everything is prepped… it’s time to make magic…’




Assembly, I followed all the steps, browned the chicken and the sausage- remove from pan. Sautéed the onions, garlic and parsley. Everything was perfect, until I noticed my pan was uneven, which created hot spots. Things just got worse once I added the wine and broth. And Yes Eric was right- not everything was going to fit into my pan. Things went from bad to “OH SHIT!” in seconds. Before I knew it the entire house was filled with smoke. The hot spots were causing certain area to burn. I added too much broth for the pan- and it was dripping EVERYWHERE!

Even my dogs, who constantly underfoot, were hiding in corners giving me side glances of uncertainness. Their little eyes were stinging from the thick smoke filing the air.

I was able to remove the pan from the stove and rest it on the wooden cutting board. Which created more smoke. I started yelling four letter words in frustration. At about that point Eric walks back into the kitchen waving his hand in front of his face, “Baby, does it taste good? Phew it’s Smoky!”

“IT’S RUINED!! IT’S BURNED! IT’S OVER!”


At this point the tear started- Eric gently took my shoulder and said- “ Stop crying! We can fix this! Baby, stop crying!”

That scorched flavor perfumed the entire dish. Lucky, we were able to remove a lot of the shell fish and rinse it off. All the chicken, Sausage, fish and rice was ruined. Along with the $18.00 for the Saffron, which was infused with the broth.

It was over for me. I felt depressed, devastated and at this point totally exhausted. My dream of making a masterpiece was crushed in a matter of 15mins. After weeks of research, planning and prepping.

Eric went to the store for chicken, sausage, shrimp and scallops. I didn’t have it in me for a do over. I was done- we were able to turn what we had into a seafood soup/stew. I cooked some rice and served the stew over it.

Eric’s sister enjoyed it and so did her son. For me, the burned scorched taste was lingering.
Eric helped me clean up- apparently the pan was so hot it burned the wooden cutting board. I cleaned the pan that put it away. I haven’t used the pan since. The pan that I loved so much and bragged to everyone with “I love this pan!” posts- failed me.


I can never trust this pan again....

7 comments:

  1. Goodness, saffron isn't cheap! I know HomeGoods has it for cheap sometimes stashed away in their food isles!
    And I loved reading this! Can't wait for more :)

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    1. Two words: River Market. $6 for a scoop

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    2. Ok so maybe that was more than two words

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    3. Ok so maybe that was more than two words

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  4. Yes, We learned that a little too late.

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