Last night, Don Vicente Aguilar of Heredia-based La Lluna de Valencia hosted a special dinner at the Beach Club. The 2020 Cuchara de Oro recipient for the world’s best paella maker, Don Vicente shared his history of cooking and his love for the craft as he cooked.
“Cooking is an act of love, and passion,” Aguilar explained, as he prepared shrimp and lobster, then stewed shellfish and whitefish, then finally the full paella all in turn in his wide, shallow pan. “When I cook, I am an artist, and the paella pan is the canvas. It takes time, but you are not here for fast food. After all, paella is a dish for celebrations and good times!”
The meal was served out in the open air of the Beach Club in a traditional style, with starters of chorizo, cheese, tortilla española, papas bravas and glasses of cava to share as the paella steadily came together. Once done, Don Vicente welcomed everyone for photos with the final dish as the paella settled, before serving each plate himself to be paired with sangria. Dinner wrapped up with churros y chocolate for a postre, as well as thanks from Don Vicente for a lovely evening.
