1st International Paella Championship Comes to Los Cabos
And now for something completely different! The 1st International Paella Championship, a unique culinary event, will be held November 3-4 in the Puerto Paraiso “Golden Zone” on the marina in Cabo San Lucas.
Paella, an ancient rice dish that originated in Valencia, Spain, evolved into its modern form in the mid-19th century on the east coast of Spain. Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain's national dish. Over the years, it’s a main course that has been embraced throughout Mexico and deserves to be more popular in Los Cabos based on the availability of fresh local seafood. As a rule, seafood paella replaces meat with seafood and omits beans (lima beans, butterbeans, etc.) adding green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of meat from land animals. All types of paella use olive oil and seasonings such as saffron and rosemary, but each chef tends to interpret paella differently. Ingredients vary from region to region and from kitchen to kitchen which makes this inaugural culinary event an exciting proposition for connoisseurs of paella, among the most flavorsome of rice-based dishes.
Approximately 40 teams will be competing in the 1st International Paella Championship, which is open to professional chefs as well as amateurs. The entry fee is $1,000 USD.
According to tournament organizers, “Winners will receive important prizes.” For patrons, the all-inclusive-ticket cost will be $1,350 pesos (roughly $75 USD) and includes the opportunity to taste all the paellas available and enjoy snacks served by host restaurants. A complimentary open bar will serve national and international drinks. The paella tournament is a charity event created to support the region’s rural communities.