Annual Labor Day WineFest at my place...each year I choose a wine region and guests bring a bottle or 2 from there...I cook a main dish and some apps and cheese to go with the theme...this year was SPAIN, what better excuse to get a giant 26 in Paella pan!

Set up pan on the fryer burner (which I wouldn't do again...heat was too centric in the middle and created some challenges with constantly moving pan...next time over open fire pit...live and learn!)

First browned about 1lb cured Spanish chorizo in some olive oil...

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Then 6 lbs cut up chicken thighs which were seasoned with s/p and smoked paprika...in the residual fat renderings from the chorizo...building flavor base...

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Then 3 chopped spanish onion, some garlic and crushed tomatoes....cooked in the renderings til nice and thick...the "sofrito"...

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When the sofrito was ready, added the star...5 lbs of bomba rice...

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Cooked rice with sofrito for a couple minutes to coat, then added meat back in, some squid and 5 qts. of saffron infused chicken stock, some smoked paprika and salt...

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Rice absorbing all the goodness...

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After 15-20 minutes, added 4 lbs of shrimp that had been "marinated" with olive oil, garlic and saffron...and 2bs of mussels...arranged all neatly around the perimeter for presentation, but this is where the heat challenges came in...couldnt get the shrimp and mussels to cook without burning the middle so it all got "stirred" up a bit...then some peas and chopped parsley and a squeeze or 3 of lemon juice

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The money shot...the Socarrat...toasty rice goodness on the bottom of the pan...

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Oh, and the wine...31 bottles of fine Spanish wine later...it was a great nite...

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Where was my invite ya bastage!:-):-):-)
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Planning on hand delivering invite next week...:-)
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Looks damn good Keith. Not sure on the price, but they make a burner specifically for those large pans. Saw one in use a few weeks back at a BBQ event.
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yea...had a hard enough time convincing my bride I "needed" the pan!!




















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Wow, that looks great!
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Bringing some leftovers this week? :-) :-)
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Leftovers?!?...not for my boy Mac!...personal pan for you son! :-)
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:-) :-) :-)

Can't wait to see ya Friday brother. :-)
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Damn, that looks good! :-)
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Paella and Spanish red wine. :-)
A pre-dinner martini would be perfection.
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Don't be too sure I didn't... Great kinds my fiend...great minds :-)
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That looks absoutely delish, Keith! :-)
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Dang that looks good Keith!! I'd bet it was a good time with that kind of food and wine!!
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A Manhattan!:-)
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I wouldn't call him names if I were you. :-)
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What am I, wood?

Looks great, Keith.
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Wow, 5 lbs of rice is a huge paella!

Surprised you put the squid in so soon. I too make a lot of paella.

I use base of my WSM with charcoal to heat it; works like a charm.
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was gonna use my drum smoker for heat but pan completely covered top....was concerned about extinguishing fire due to lack of air...thats why next time i'll rig an open pit...or get a weber ranch kettle!
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