The 3rd Annual Paella Fest: What a Fest It Was!

The Club Rotario of Zihuatanejo’s 3^rd annual Paella Fest may have looked quite different from the first two, and definitely different from any kind of “fest” one would typically think of. There was no sampling of various paellas, and zero crowds. By definition, a “fest” is a large gathering for a celebration. But for this fest, there was no mass gathering. The Rotary Club and the committee of restaurants involved knew they had to not just think outside of the box this year, but they also had to prepare for the strictest Covid regulations, in case we went back to Semáfaro Rojo… which is exactly what happened.

It didn’t help that a wave of Canadian Snowbirds suddenly scrambled to get home to the frozen tundra earlier than expected due to flights canceling early and the much stricter Covid regulations that were about to hit them. Some of those dear Snowbirds gave their tickets back to the restaurant- not asking for a refund, but asking that their tickets be resold to raise more money for the Rotary Club.

There were 15 restaurants who participated this year; 100 % of the proceeds of every Paella Fest ticket sold went directly to the Rotary Club fund for needy children. As each restaurant had agreed to set aside 15 seats each, even the smaller participants were able to stay within the 30% operational capacity while still having a couple seats open for other meals. Doing the math, that’s 15 restaurants with 15 tickets at $250 pesos each, raising at least $56,000 pesos. At least– as some were able to re-sell tickets, and some restaurants asked for 5 more tickets. Due to the limited amount allowed for each location, tickets sold out quickly. While the tickets were only a small portion of previous years, we all agreed that what was raised was still wonderful, and for a worthy cause.

Now for the magical moment: The paella! With 15 restaurants to choose from, we opted to try something different for this special event; we chose Carmelita’s. Carmelita’s is known for exceptional quality food, service, and family togetherness; specializing in traditional Mexican plates. As such, paella isn’t on their menu, as it is a Spanish dish. Enter Carmelita’s son Paco and his uncle Luis Mariano García (who happens to be part Spaniard!), and with their combined love for cooking, they created an amazing paella that had us all clapping! Well, actually we were all silent for a while as we each savored each delicious bite. The actual applause came after we put our forks down- lest someone steal a bite from our plates! Each plate had an abundance of perfectly seasoned saffron-flavored rice with a vast array of seafood and meat: shrimp, pork, mussels, clams, chistorra (Spanish sausage) and vegetables, topped with either lobster tail or half crab and a side of asparagus. My mouth is watering just writing this! Having seen photos from most of the other Paella Fest locations, it seems it was a success in every location. But as far as the deliciousness of the paella that day- I can only write about the perfection that I tried!

So, was it a fest? It’s all in the eyes of the beholder, and in my eyes it absolutely was a fest- and a very successful one. The “fest” was the joy of gathering at your own table with the people you came with at the restaurant you had chosen for that one plate of paella. The “fest” was the feeling of community, knowing that everyone in each restaurant was there to support a worthy cause. And the paella itself was a “fest” upon my plate and my palate!