My friends and I got the full Paella experience one night in Barcelona when we signed up for a cooking class. The class began with instruction on how to put together pinchos. First we took small pieces of bread and grated a tomato on top, similar to when making Catalan tomato bread. Then we drizzled olive oil and sprinkled salt and pepper on top. Following that, we placed a slice of cheese and Iberian ham, topping it off with a Padrón pepper. We then finished the pincho by sticking a tooth pick through the center to hold the ingredients together.
Before the class began, we went, with our instructor, to la Boqueria to pick up our live seafood for the Paella. The class was split in half, some to prepare the seafood and the others to cook the dish. I was placed in the first group and was given the opportunity to prepare the seafood. I was instructed on how to gut a squid and pull the legs and heads off the prawns. I also helped tap each of the mussels to make sure they were still living before we cooked them. This experience made me squirm a little because I had never dealt with live seafood before, but I really appreciated seeing the process of paella from start to finish.
I was able to watch my friends add in all the ingredients and cook and serve the paella. It was the best paella I had in Spain, and it was so rewarding because I helped create it. The Paella cooking experience gave me a good look into many Spanish homes and how this dish plays a big role in their culture.
Madison's Catalan Culture Experience 