Spanish restaurant Paella Mix opens in City Market
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Indoor-outdoor seating, just as in Spain. Photo: Travis Meier / Axios
The Paella Mix, serving authentic Spanish dishes, opened yesterday in the City Market.
Why it matters: The new business adds yet another lunchtime flavor to an area known for its lively scene of worldly cuisines.
Context: Paella is a traditional rice and meat dish seasoned with saffron and cooked on a wide, shallow pan.
- The bottom forms a caramelized crust of toasted rice called socarrat, which owner and chef Carlos Saura says is essential for true paella.
Zoom in: Saura is from Seville, and his wife is from Kansas City. He says family, his passion for hospitality, and the World Cup gave him all the reasons he needed to open a restaurant.
- "I'm pretty sure, 100%, Spain will be" in the quarterfinals, one of which will be in KC, Saura told Axios in July.
Fun fact: The architecture in Seville, a sister city to KC, played a big role in the aesthetic of our Country Club Plaza. And in Seville, Avenida de Kansas City runs through the city center.
Dig in: The food at Paella Mix is made with high-quality olive oil and imported ingredients, like the Ñora pepper.
The vibe: Blue and white tabletops imported from Spain give the spot a festive feel. Greenery hangs from the lights and pictures paint Spanish scenes.
Travis' thought bubble: When I visited Spain, I was most impressed by all the colors. Paella Mix does a good job of re-creating the country's vibrancy in its decor — and even its flavors.
- True story: None of the paella I had abroad stands up to Saura's cooking.
What's next: Paella Mix is in the process of ramping up its menu, which will include tapas and sangria.
If you go: It's currently open every day for lunch, but Saura says he plans to open some days for dinner in October.