Measuring the rice out by the bucket!

The British Fancy Dress Day on Thursday was a great success..... in fact, some revelers were still walking around on Friday morning in their costumes! The entire area was jam packed and everyone I spoke to said what a fab time they had had and were already thinking about next year.... the day has certainly become a major event in the calendar.

Yesterday, the day after the Fancy Dress Day there was a free giant paella for everyone courtesy of Manolo... the owner of Sinatra´s. He certainly knows a thing or two about running bars as he also runs the popular Chaplin´s, Tropical and Red Dog. It is his way of saying thank you to everyone who came, keeps coming back year after year and making such an effort.... what a lovely gesture.

Me with Manolo

Manolo started the Fancy Dress some 20 years ago.... back then he use to give anyone who had dressed up a free drink - can you imagine that now with the number of people that turned up yesterday! So instead of free drinks which is unfeasible, he lays on a free paella for everyone which he has done for the last 5 years.

There are specialist companies that do this... in fact many towns and villages do it during fiesta time. Its amazing to see - I think many found it just as interesting to watch it being made as to  actually eating it.

Look at the size of those paddles stirring!

The quantities used were unbelievable.... the paella was enough to feed 700 people! In case you are thinking of reproducing it the measurements were: 120 kilos of meat - a mixture of chicken and pork; 70 kilos of vegetables and 80 kilos of rice - plus you will need a rather large paella pan! Somehow I don´t think you´ll get away with bringing one back that size on your flight!

When they needed to turn the heat down, they pushed the logs which were burning underneath, to the edges. The "boss"- a rather portly gentleman, sat watching and giving out instructions, then would go over and give it an expert stir himself now and then... he was also the taster (which was rather obvious)!

Paella being handed out

TVCosta´s came to film the paella being made and then Rachel, the chief correspondent interviewed Manolo. At one point they were overcome with smoke wafting over from the fire!  As the smell floated across the Square and the paella neared completion, the queue started to form. There were "bouncers" supervising and they made sure that all the Brits were served first... I heard them speaking to the many eager Spanish telling them that they had to wait until the English people had been served.

Tucking in...

The portions were certainly generous and there was plenty to go around.... even the cheeky gypsy women who trawl around the bars selling roses joined the queue!

So if you are planning on coming to next years Fancy Dress Day, make sure that you don´t book your flight back for the following day and miss this amazing spectacle.

I wonder if I contacted the Guinness World of Records whether we could be up for an entry as the biggest fancy dress party for next year? I´ll keep you posted....