Sometimes, with the best of intentions, there are chefs who dare to explore the rich and varied Valencian gastronomy. They seek to pay tribute to it, to recreate its flavors. However, things don't always go as expected. There are times when, unintentionally, the course ends up deviating so much that what was a tribute becomes a real culinary attack.
This is the case of Dre Pao, a Canadian titkoker who, with the idea of reclaiming Valencian gastronomy, has ended up creating a good one with his very personal interpretation of paella, transforming it into a dessert that has raised blisters.
The creation, baptized by its author as "maple syrup paella", has no resemblance to the traditional Valencian paella. The Canadian has decided to give it a sweet touch, using "maple syrup aged in Vermont barrels", to which he declares himself absolutely addicted. According to him, this version can only be considered authentic if it is prepared outdoors, under the snow, which requires very high heat and constant attention while the ingredients are cooked.
To top it off, he added Canadian maple cream cookies on top, and then left the pan in the snow to cool and caramelize, forming a kind of maple crust on top. If he was not happy with the result, he added a little powdered sugar to complete the dish.
Dre Pao is clear that this peculiar rice is a great recipe that mixes the best of both countries: "If Canada and Spain had a child in the form of food, it would taste like this." However, few people agree with him as he has received a lot of criticism.
While some assure that "this is not paella, it is rice with things inside", others wonder if it is some kind of bad joke. However, the TikToker has defended his creation: "In 2024 it is possible to experiment with food" Another user has expressed his indignation with humor: "Valencia wants to know your location."
However, not all reactions have been negative. A Valencian woman has commented that, as long as the dish is prepared with respect and without bad intentions, she does not see the problem. The creator of the maple syrup paella has responded by ensuring that his recipe is made with "total respect" and that he loves Valencia and Spain. "I create dishes like this to experiment with flavors and do new things," he said.
