Any one knows a good paella place

It's been two years since I arrive to Chicago and I was trying to find a good place to eat a Valencian Paella, I like very much, some one knows a good place?




Antonio.

Maybe not exactly addressing your need for Valencian paella, but there's a very good paella at Taste of Peru. They call it "The best paella in town," although their preparation doesn't have the socarrat that many people seek in a paella. Still, it's very good - the rice has a nice spiciness to it, and the seafood is done perfectly.

Taste of Peru
6545 N. Clark St., Chicago
(773) 381-4540

Estimado Antonio -

I just returned from Jalisco and had a knockout paella valenciana at Tapas Barcelona in Puerto Vallarta, run by native Chicagoan William Carballo (this also gets my vote for the paella with the best view in the world, surpassing even the Parador de Ronda and Hotel Real in Santander, my other contenders). After studying in Seville, he helped Emilio Gervilla establish the menu at Emilio's in Hillside, and then worked at Cafe Iberico.

Carballo is still friendly with Emilio's and Cafe Iberico, and would undoubtedly be in love with Xni-Pec if we can detour him to you on his next trip. Failing having him cook a pan for you in-house, my suggestion would be to call Emilio's in Hillside and tell them you are a chef yourself with a particular interest in paella valenciana, and want to come in on a given night (since they need advance notice to prepare it in any case). Hopefully Emilio's staff can tell you when the ingredients are at their peak and give you some extra attention. I've always found them very open to special requests.


Emilio's
4100 W. Roosevelt Rd. Hillside, IL 60162
708.547.7177

One other thought: you can also check out the brand-new Mercat a la Planxa if you're downtown.

http://www.mercatchicago.com/
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/articles ... -la-planxa

It's getting wonderful reviews here. Paella was not on the opening menu (though other kinds of rice dishes and stews were), but I've heard a rumor that you can get paella if you order a day in advance.

Su discipulo,

Mateo

nr706 wrote:Maybe not exactly addressing your need for Valencian paella, but there's a very good paella at Taste of Peru. They call it "The best paella in town," although their preparation doesn't have the socarrat that many people seek in a paella. Still, it's very good - the rice has a nice spiciness to it, and the seafood is done perfectly.

Taste of Peru
6545 N. Clark St., Chicago
(773) 381-4540

I've had several great meals at Taste of Peru, but I have to say that every time I've had the paella, I have found much of the seafood to be overcooked. Our most recent visit was no different. I agree that the rice is tasty.

You might want to try Cafe Marbella, a newish BYOB Spanish restaurant at 3446 W. Peterson. I haven't actually had the paella there, but what I have had there has been excellent. Very friendly people, and they could use some love.

Cafe Marbella
3446 W. Peterson
773-588-9922

It's been a couple years, so take this with a grain of salt, but the Peruvian restaurant Riconcito Sudamericano (sp?) used to have a very good paella, and reasonably priced. Other interesting menu items there, too. It's in Bucktown on Armitage, just E of Damen. If anyone has been there lately, please post as to what they are up to.

Is anybody currently doing a good version of Paella? I have a hankering for it.

Hi,

Scattered about are a number of paella mentions.

When you find something to your liking (or not), I hope you will report back.

Regards,

I'll throw in a vote for Emilio's. He's a nice guy, hard worker and great chef. Oh, the paella is great. Cafe Ba=Ba-Reeba does a nice one too. That's where Emilio worked many moons ago. Ba-Ba-Reeba has a nice bloody mary bar as well.
I'm glad to hear Barcelona is still going strong in PV. While having dinner there one night I recognized a man at the bar area. I HAD to ask him where I knew him from. It was the owner of Cafe Barcelona in PV and he remembered me as a regular at Emilio's in Hillside. He joined us for awhile and shared his culinary journey with us. Small fun world!