Since being here, I have had the chance to try and to make a Spanish delicacy and tradition- paella.  I was not sure if I would like it at first, especially because the most traditional paellas are seafood based. But, I traveled to Valencia, which is the birthplace of paella, and had to give it a try. We went to Casa Carmela for lunch, as they are known for their wide variety of paella. We ordered the seafood paella so we could fully experience the most traditional form of the dish. I was very pleasantly surprised, and I thought it was delicious. I have yet to get paella at a restaurant in Barcelona, but if you are in Valencia, definitely try out Casa Carmela for a delicious experience.

I also had the chance to take a cooking class offered through SAI to make paella as well as a variety of other dishes. We made several traditional Spanish and Catalan dishes, such as grilled vegetables in a delicious sauce, tortilla patata, paella, and crema Catalana, which is a delicious dessert that is similar to crème brûlée, except it was created first!  We made a chicken paella which was very different from the seafood version I had previously tried, although it was still very delicious. All of the dishes were so flavorful and doing a cooking class offered by SAI was a fun, interactive, and free way to enjoy these traditional foods.

Written by: Tess, Spring 2025 Barcelona student from University of South Carolina