Hugh Elliott, the British Ambassador to Spain, joined the discussion and asked M&S about the recipe: “What's yours?” ready'? Photo: Europa Press/Eduardo Parra
M&S is now trying to combine the two with a new idea that, according to the packaging, includes “paella rice, smoky chorizo, saffron and creamy béchamel sauce.”
Simon Hunter, a journalist based in Madrid, posted an image of an M&S product on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption “NO NO NO”, which was viewed 30,000 times and caused a strong reaction.
Hugh Elliott, the British Ambassador to Spain, intervened and wrote in Spanish: “Chorizo, yes! Paella, yes! Croquettes, yes! Yes! Together? …. M&S, what have you done?
Phil Dickinson, a Spanish football translator, wrote: “Wrong on every level. Just call them arancini with chorizzo.”
The hot appetizer consists of paella, chorizo and béchamel sauce. Photo: Jay Williams “Not real”
Omar Allibhoy, the Spanish chef and founder of Tapas Revolution, said the idea was “not real” but still supported it.< /p>
“Unfortunately, I haven't tried them yet so can't give my opinion on the taste and texture – I'm doing that tonight – and the concept isn't revolutionary, but it's definitely clever,” he said. The Telegraph.
“Three of Spain's best-loved dishes come together in one, so the product developer saves money.
“The problem is that paella gets lost in translation: in Valencia, where paella originates, paella is the name given to only one dish that contains rabbit, chicken, green beans, artichokes and snails.”
“Still it is called arroz – which means rice. In the rest of Spain this does not apply and we will call it paella if it is cooked in a paella pan. Ultimately, the taste, texture, aroma, pleasure and convenience will speak for themselves – let the audience be the judge.”
Xanthe Clay, food columnist for the Telegraph, conducts a taste test. Photo: Jay Williams
Quique da Costa, three Michelin starred chef. Valencian owner of London restaurant Arros QD told The Telegraph: “If we talk about Valencian paella, from a local point of view it is almost comical, and from a cultural point of view it is almost an insult.”
“But It is also true that there is a way to take a broader view of paella: by preparing paella rice in which the ingredients can be arranged more freely without disturbing the traditional recipe.”
He added: “I think it’s blasphemous for arancini, croquettes and paella to put three different ingredients into such a small thing. The question I ask myself is: is this a commercial response to demand from the British public?
The row comes after a series of other controversies surrounding British changes to foreign food.
In 2018, Jamie Oliver was forced to defend his “spicy dry rice” after Dawn Butler, a Labor MP, told him that “this allocation from Jamaica needs to stop.”The TV chef later revealed he hires “teams of cultural appropriation specialists” to review his cookbooks.
In 2022, The Great British Bake Off came under fire after the presenters wore wearing sombreros, shaking maracas and displaying tacos and tequila, prompting Thomasina Myers, owner of the Wahaca restaurant chain and author of several Mexican cookbooks, to say Mexican cuisine is “one of the most misunderstood cuisines.”
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