We had lots of fun at our 31st Annual Paella Party! A big crowd came out on a gorgeous sunny Sunday to learn a little about the Spanish specialty and, of course, eat some.

Per tradition, our presentation included a cooking demonstration. This year, Zingerman’s Deli’s Head Chef Rodger took Rebecca and Meredith, the two winners of our Paella Pro Contest, under his wing to teach them the finer points of preparing the dish.

When asked why she entered the contest, Meredith, who was an exchange student in Spain while in high school, said her love fondness for Spanish cooking was her motivation. “I knew that if it was going to b made at Zingerman’s, it was going to be authentic and good!” she explained. “I’m always looking for new meals to add to my cooking repertoire—especially those that get family gathered around the table and eating together.”

Rebecca, who entered in hopes of escaping her cooking rut, enjoyed the experience “It was so much fun learning from Chef Roger. I could really tell how much he cares about and loves what he is doing. I had such a great time learning about paella and left with a renewed passion for cooking,” she said.

Hopefully, some of these delicious photos will inspire you to try to make your own paella in your home kitchen. We’re already looking forward to our 32nd Annual Paella Party!

The Paella Party is almost here—now there are three ways to do it up!

We’ve been presenting the Paella Party for the past three decades for a reason: it’s fun and delicious! We expect this year’s event to keep with that tradition. Our 31st Paella Party is all set for Sunday, October 9 from 11:00AM- 2:00PM on the patio at Zingeman’s Delicatessan.

You’ll want to get there by noon to see the special paella presentation. Then, Chef Rodger and his crew will be serving three kinds of traditional paella—chicken/chorizo, seafood, and vegetarian—all grilled over mesquite. Here’s a tip: line up for  the pardon peppers.

NEW THIS YEAR: If you’d rather party with paella in the comfort of your own home, you can pre-order a pan. For $70, you get a large pan of paella to share with 6-8 friends. Pick up is available between 11:00AM-2:00PM. Just be sure to place your order before October 8th (just call 734-663-3354).

ALSO AVAILABLE (and super fun): Take it a step further and make your own paella at home. We’re offering DIY paella kits, packed with items you’ll need to get started, and a 31st Annual Paella Party t-shirt. $95 gets you an 18″ paella pan, bomba rice, paprika, and saffron (plus, the shirt).

Reserve your spot here. The presentation is free, and the paella is sold by the pound. Don’t miss it!