Jennifer Vance

Buenos Días Chicos!!

Today was a super exciting and fun-filled day spent at a farm that was just a short train ride away from Valencia. We went to a farm that is famous for their Paella. So famous that Dolce and Gabbana had even come to try it. Paella is a traditional Spanish dish that contains rice, your choice of meats, and vegetables. Paella is definitely worth trying, especially at Barraca Toni Montoliu. When we first got there we were able to watch the chefs fry some of the meats on their outdoor stoves while having refreshments in their outdoor restaurant area before walking out to the fields. While walking to the field, the owner of the farm showed us his really cool motorized bicycle and can not only ride it forward, but can also sit on the handlebars, face backwards, and ride the bike as well! In the fields we were able to see some of the animals they own like donkeys, horses, and chickens. Also, we were able to taste some of the Spanish vegetables used in their salads. Later, we went on a short wagon ride to explore their old farmhouse that had been there for nearly a 100 years! While waiting for this wagon ride half of the group stayed back to enjoy refreshments, hear more terrible jokes from Troy, and attended to the young puppy that escaped its pin. The puppy is featured in the photo with me!

By the time we got back to the main building it was time to eat dinner! We were served a very exquisite salad and a plate of the most delicious country style potatoes you'll ever eat topped with mayo sauce. I personally love potatoes with all my heart so I ended up eating most of the potatoes for my side of the table, plus the leftovers of the other half of the table. When the Paella came out there was a big showing for all of us to rush over with our cameras to capture the most picturesque moment of the huge Paella dish filled with chicken, rice, and various beans. Paella is a dish unlike anything I've had before. The chicken is soft and is as flavorful as the rice and beans. One of my favorite moments captured at dinner was when some of the students and Tommy were daring enough to try a cooked snail, which is also another option to have cooked into your paella. I personally don't have the stomach for eating snail, but from what I've gathered from those who were brave enough to try it, it tastes pretty salty.

Toni ready to serve the Paella!

A group of students and Eduardo (ISA staff) with a large Paella pan

All in all, today was a great experience learning more about traditional Spanish food in a more intimate setting that allowed us students to learn with a hands-on experience that you cannot get from just eating Paella in any other restaurant in Spain. If you find your self in Valencia in the future, I highly recommend stopping by Barraca Toni Montoliu’s farm for an amazing food experience that you won't forget.