Jamie Oliver has managed to offend the Spanish nation by posting his version of a less-than-authentic paella online
His cheeky chappy persona and tireless campaigning for healthier meals in schools has endeared him to most of the nation.
But it seems TV golden boy Jamie Oliver will have to work even harder to endear himself to the Spanish, as he managed to offend the nation by posting his version of a less-than-authentic paella online.
In his usual cheery tone to his 5.67million Twitter followers yesterday, the 41-year-old chef, restaurateur and campaigner said: ‘Good Spanish food doesn’t get much better than paella…’
He included a link to his own recipe, adding, ‘my version combines chicken thighs and chorizo,’ some of his followers weren’t impressed.
And that was when he provoked the anger of the Spanish, who claimed his recipe was nothing like paella.
The reason Oliver invoked the wrath of the Twitterati seemed to be that, while there are countless recipes for paella, the use of chorizo is strictly forbidden in-keeping with the dish’s Valencian origins.
While it may include meat, fish, shellfish, vegetables and beans, the starring role of chorizo in Oliver’s version meant it should remain in the category of ‘rice with whatever’, according to another commenter.
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Comments included some very extreme opposition, with Alec O’Sullivan said: ‘You’re absolutely mistaken and your paella’s an abomination.’
While others took a sarcastic tone, including Antonio Villarreal who commented: ‘My version of fish and chips combines aubergine with duck.’
Showing just how wide of the mark Oliver was with his recipe, one used known as ‘Proscojoncio’ posted an image of two fried eggs, rice covered in tomato sauce and two hot dog sausages.
The 41-year-old chef, restaurateur and campaigner said: ‘Good Spanish food doesn’t get much better than paella…’ (File photo)
His caption read: ‘Great work Jamie Oliver. I also cooked paella. Hope you like my version.’
Further posts included one user who said: ‘Remove the chorizo. We don’t negotiate with terrorists. First warning.’
But perhaps the most cutting barb was a tweet from a user named ‘churreznos’, who simply posted a picture of Oliver’s paella alongside a traditional version, followed by before and after images of the botched restoration of a fresco of Christ carried out by a well-intentioned elderly woman in a Spanish church in 2012.
He was not the first British chef to offend overseas for a take on a foreign classic.
Earlier this year, an article in Spanish newspaper El Pais criticised Gordon Ramsay for his chilli-infused paella, adding: ‘…because it’s never too late to confuse Spain with Mexico.’