Choose the rice with the moment of service in mind. A seated lunch at an agreed time is different from a fiesta with staggered arrivals. Then consider flavour: meat and vegetables, fish stock or an egg topping that needs its own finishing stage.
This comparison helps you decide what to ask. Recipe pages document tradition; publishing a recipe does not mean that dish is offered at every Xepep event. Check paella and live cooking options for your date and venue.
Three dishes, three planning questions
| Dish | Culinary reference | What to check for the event |
|---|---|---|
| Valencian paella | Chicken, rabbit and vegetables in the most widespread version | Authorised cooking area, pans and serving time |
| Arroz a banda | Rice cooked in fish stock | Stock ingredients, accompaniments and service |
| Arroz con costra | Rice finished with a browned egg layer | Finishing equipment and batch capacity |
Ingredient references come from Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and Turespaña’s recipes for arroz a banda and arroz con costra, checked 31 October 2026. Agree the planning details with the supplier for your venue and attendance.
Valencian paella: specify the recipe
Turisme describes chicken, rabbit and vegetables as the most widespread version. Writing only “paella” in a proposal is insufficient if guests expect a particular recipe. Clarify ingredients, variations and what else will be served.
The Valencian paella recipe provides sourced household quantities. For a celebration, check the cooking position, layout and service time. If an activity might run late, agree how the kitchen will coordinate before cooking starts.
Arroz a banda: ask about the stock
Turespaña prepares it with fish stock and explains serving the fish separately. That clarifies the dish but does not establish the composition of every stock used at an event. Ask about fish, crustaceans, molluscs and accompaniments in the actual preparation.
The arroz a banda recipe distinguishes sources and variations. If allioli accompanies it, confirm that recipe too: the sauce’s name alone does not identify every ingredient.
Arroz con costra: plan the finishing stage
Turespaña’s recipe finishes by spreading beaten egg over the rice and placing the casserole in the oven to form the crust. For a group meal, ask what equipment provides that finish, where it will happen and how batches will be served.
Do not transfer a paella pan’s capacity directly to an egg-crust casserole. The arroz con costra recipe introduces the dish; availability for a catering service needs a separate enquiry. Egg also matters when reviewing dietary requirements.
Quantities, alternatives and timings
For grams per person, use the guide to rice quantities; for equipment and coordination, see paella for 100 people. Simply multiplying a household recipe’s timing and stock will not organise an event.
Count adults and children separately, record appetisers and other courses, and communicate dietary requirements. A vegetable option still needs stock and preparation checked if requested as vegan. Review event allergen information for the actual dish, not just its main ingredient.
Which option fits your celebration?
If guests sit down together, ask how the rice will be timed for service. With staggered arrivals, explain the real timetable before choosing a dish everyone expects freshly finished. For costra, include the finishing equipment; outdoors, check fire rules and permissions.
At a local fiesta, coordinate the meal with the calendar and activities. The Aspe fiesta guide helps build that timetable. Explore the rice recipe collection for further menu ideas.
To request a rice proposal for your event, send the date, venue, attendance, timetable and preferences. You can ask about venue requirements before settling on a format.
