Our first tasting...the Paella that tasted...

[Mandarine]

NOTHING LIKE PAELLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I''m $100 poorer and not happy about that paella AT ALL!.

I can make better paella! I actually suggested I would make some for the Chef, maybe that way he would see what I am looking for and try again. It was just....."blah".

It didn''t have that distinct paella flavor, from the saffron and the seafood broth...it seriously tasted like something I would have made in college

I''m so bummed because I really liked this people. Their Hor''s dvres were very good! Spanish omelet ("tortilla espanola"), jamon serrano little rolls, a bruschetta that was to die for...they were missing a couple of our choices, but I know they could make them...The salad was really good. Then we had "Camarones al ajillo" (shrimp scampi) that was SO GOOD! By the time they brought the Paella I was so excited!...it looked great...and then, I put the fork in my mouth...what a huge dissapointment!.

They could definitely tell we didn''t like it, we tried not to be mean, but it was just obvious....and if you''re going to have a "staple" main entree, it better be spectacular!...

The Chef wasn''t there, so they saved some for him so he could try it and then maybe he knows what is worng with it and if they could "fix it". I seriously don''t know they can....

I have another caterer, but it is a total of $2K more.....which I would have thought I would not even consider, but given how bad this was, I might have to. We''re tasting their paella in a week or so.

I haven''t heard from them...but I don''t know what I''m suppossed to say when they call?. I would like to give them a second chance, but I''m obviously not paying for it. My sister suggested I give them my paella recipe...I dunno, that may not go well with a chef..I don''t know what to do.

*sigh*

I was so looking forward to loving it, close the contract and check that off my list!

M~

 

[zoebartlett]

I''m sorry that it didn''t go the way you had planned. I''ve never had paella but it''s always been on my list of dishes to try. It does sound yummy!

 

[iwannaprettyone]

be honest and tell them everything was fab, but you were shooting for a family recipe'' paella...''maybe he''d be happy to oblige

 

[MustangFan]

sorry to hear that mandarine, I cook a lot and usually disappointed and their the professional chefs here!!
Hopefuly they will work with you and you show when what REAL paella tastes like!!

 

[Mandarine]

yep, we''ll see...I was so wishing the paella was good, everything else was and they have a family business and you could just tell they would have done a great job and really wanted our business!.

It''s funny because I''d eat anything...I''m not picky at all and not a big food snob, but FI is....I guess when it''s costing me thousands then I get a little more picky! haha...he said he felt bad for them because my expressions of dissapointment were so obvious that he had to play it nice. Usually it''s the opposite, we compliment each other because he is usually the thouger one and I accommodate and try to make people happy. I guess when my pocket hurts I get a little more demanding...hehe

M~

 

[Jas12]

I would ask if there was any way the chef could follow your grandmother''s recipe b/c it would mean a lot to her and it was a request made ''after'' she found out that you and your FI wanted Paella for the main entree (a little white lie, but I think it is a better approach than "your stuff tastes like ''sh*t") Then I would ask if the chef could make up a batch to try again--since you have changed the plan.
(I would even go on and say things like "Grandma wanted to try and make it for everyone, and I told her, no grandma, I''ll just see if the caterer can use your recipe instead....

)

I had a similar thing at my tasting. My FI sampled the asian 5-spiced salmon steak and I had a chicken dish. My dish was great but his was, well, lets just say I could barely taste one spice let alone 5. I was really disheartened b/c our venue is "5-star" dining and super pricey--it was a bit of a let down. However, FI really liked it so I thought I was just being ultra picky and we went with it anyway, but I am obviously still thinking about it ...

 

[janinegirly]

hi mandarine, sorry to hear that but you''re right to be demanding (not that you are yet). i am normally v. laid back but can see how wedding makes people obsessed with the details--not so much out of a need for perfectionism, but when it''s your own $ and there is so much room to be ripped off (anything wedding related is overpriced), then it starts to really matter. I think it''s necessary sometimes to push vendors and question everything--you are their client after all and a strong referral from you keeps their business going!

i''m not sure how your tasting worked (sounds like you had to pay for it), but i was also unhappy with our tasting and pushed (politely but strongly) our coordinator so she''s talking to the chef and bringing us in again. We''re committed to the reception site, so in reality not much we can do. but they do weddings every wkend and i figure if i push them on the details they''ll pay more attention--because again, word of mouth is pretty powerful.

 

[akw94]

Mandarine, Sorry to hear the tasting wasn''t very good. I hope they can accommodate you in some way since it sounds like the other food was good.
Good luck!