There’s no accounting for taste, but there’s a very simple explanation as to why the people of Spain are roasting British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver over his so-called paella: He totally fucked it up.
The restaurateur and one-time host of the Naked Chef series was foolish enough to post his recipe on Twitter, having learned nothing from the many cooks before him who dared to appropriate and/or ruin a regionally specific cuisine. Still, it looked tasty!
https://twitter.com/jamieoliver/status/783251738509836288
As the Guardian reported, commenters wrote that “the inclusion of chorizo meant the recipe absolutely could not be described as a paella in keeping with the dish’s true, Valencian origins.” But most people weren’t nearly that polite about the faux pas.
Some simply resorted to name-calling.
Tú lo que eres es un hijo de puta
— Sr.Cheeto (@Srcheeto) October 4, 2016
Or appropriate GIF reactions.
— Inés Alcolea (@InesAlcolea) October 4, 2016
— Jot Down Magazine (@JotDownSpain) October 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/Zurdo/status/783262440486297605
At least one observer called it “a crime against humanity.”
Esa paella debería ser un crimen contra la humanidad o algo por Dios pic.twitter.com/Qo1V0jAtHI
— cricri🚺 (@microcricri) October 4, 2016
Others turned the tables with ridiculous spins on British fare.
My version of fish and chips combines aubergines with duck.
— Antonio Villarreal (@bajoelbillete) October 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/phobophille/status/783261095389790208
Or their own take on paella.
Great work, @jamieoliver. I also cooked paella. Hope you like my version. pic.twitter.com/t9aszQgMB0
— Proscojoncio (@Proscojoncio) October 4, 2016
But everyone, and I mean everyone, was angry.
https://twitter.com/AnageMidos/status/783267113242882048
https://twitter.com/AnageMidos/status/783271094098755584
The best burn, however, was nothing short of art.
— Foquito de Luz 💡🕯️🏮 (@churreznos) October 4, 2016
Will Oliver ever be able to set foot on the Iberian Peninsula again after this outrage? Only if he prefers to get roasted in person, I guess.
Update 6:09pm, Oct. 4: As Twitter’s comms team has pointed out, Spanish chef José Andrés found the whole controversy a little overblown and came to Oliver’s defense.
People of SPAIN! I know you think that photo doesn’t look like a paella. But is an “Spanish Arroz”..lets give Jamie a break…
— Chef José Andrés 🕊️🥘🍳 (@chefjoseandres) October 4, 2016
Hey, as long as everyone leaves the dinner table satisfied, right?
H/T Guardian
