Paella, laughter and a full house
We held our 4th Paella Evening at Gastro Nicks deli on 25 July, and what a night it was. The shop and terrace were filled with the sound of chatter, the scent of spices drifting through the air, and the unmistakable buzz that comes when good food, great company, and a little music come together.
What led you to hold themed evenings like paella night?
We wanted to build on the success of our pizza nights, so we created Gastros Explore - in-house events for people to discover different cuisines and foods.
Why a paella evening?
We specialise in Mediterranean foods, so it felt natural to bring a taste of Spain to Wiltshire. Paella night has become a much-loved fixture in our calendar.
What do you do to prepare?
First, we find a date that works for both us and José, our paella chef. We advertise through our Gastros Explore mailing list, social media and in the shop. Then it’s all about making sure we have all the ingredients ready - along with plenty of Spanish wine and beer.
What was on the menu?
Guests chose between chicken and chorizo paella or seafood paella - two favourites we’ve kept since year one. A glass of Spanish wine or beer was included in the ticket price, and plenty came back for more.
How many people came?
We served nearly 70 happy diners in all, each with a plate of freshly made paella they could watch being cooked in the huge ‘paellera’ pans.
How far did people travel to attend?
Some were locals, others came from over 20 miles away - proof that good food is worth a bit of a journey.
What about entertainment?
Paul, from Vinyl Collectors and Sellers, kept the atmosphere buzzing with a variety of records from his collection. Frank, from Fleurs de Frank, added a splash of greenery with a selection of well-priced, garden-ready plants. We kept the shop open for browsing all evening as usual.
What’s the biggest challenge?
The great British weather! We’ve had everything from a heatwave in year one to torrential rain in year three. We plan for all eventualities.
How did you feel at the end of the evening?
Buzzing. There’s always chatting, music, laughter, and happy faces all around. Seeing people enjoy an event we’ve put so much planning into makes it all worthwhile.
What other events can people look forward to?
We run regular Friday night pizza evenings, and our Gin & Jazz night is on Friday 22 August. You can see what’s coming up in the events section of our website - and we’re always open to suggestions for new ideas.
