A Cook's Notebook: Paella - Let the Men Do the Cooking

There was some confusion in my kitchen, early that night. Two guys showed up to do the cooking. One was a Spaniard; the other was from New Bedford. They said that they came to make the paella. I've a thing for men who cook so I said "ok" besides - why would I ever turn down paella? It's a wonderful, traditional Spanish rice that steams over with meat and shellfish, steeped in tomatoes and seasonings.

One of the traditions (and there are many) surrounding paella is that it's usually the men who cook it and these two seemed able enough and looked like they could handle knives.

Their ingredient requirements were simple but specific. They searched my drawers for a large round pan with sloping sides, the kind of pan that paella gets its name from. They rummaged around my pantry for rice - it had to be a medium grain - long or short wouldn't do. They pulled out onions, garlic, olive oi...
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