Paella Sundays at Chesa

I mentioned Paella Sundays at Chesa in my recent post about Summer Pop Ups in Portland 2017 where I listed pop ups and special summer series events that didn’t make it into my Eater PDX article Portland’s Hottest Supper Clubs, Summer 2017, but wanted to share even more detail! Purchase tickets and see exact dates ahead of time or you can try your luck at walk ins. The next Paella Sunday by the way, is this Sunday (2nd Sunday, August 13, and next August 27!)

Yep, Chesa the restaurant may be closed, but there’s still the original restaurant Ataula, churros at 180, and on the 2nd and last Sundays the Chesa space is still being used by sexy and down to earth chef couple extraordinares Jose Chesa and Cristina Baéz for Paella Sundays. These take place on the patio towards the back of Chesa, are family friendly and dog friendly. Paella Sundays at Chesa give you a glimpse of a casually enjoying Spanish food with your Spanish best friend’s family patio.

Paella Sundays include a bottomless salad and two paellas — one meat, one vegetarian — that you can enjoy up to four servings of, plus a cup of sangria, all for $50. Kids eat free.

Here’s a look at the refreshing fruity sangria – in addition you can purchase Gin Tonics or Wine by the glass or bottle to continue your al fresco libations.

The lovely salad – our table of 4 got 2 plates of these, and then another plate when we finished those two.

Here is a little series of paella in progress:

1. Video as it is initially prepared by Chef Jose

2. More toppings!

Before and after toppings round 1:
 

3. More meat!

 

In terms of the paella, when each is done they dish a serving of the paella family style to everyone while the next paella is cooking. The paellas are essentially every other one is a meat centric one and a vegetarian one.  The vegetarian one that day featured fresh summer local ingredients like corn, zucchini, and blistered padron peppers.

Here’s a look at the meat one – both paellas are chef’s choice just like if you showed up at his house’s backyard, so it’s just a matter of them coming around saying “want another round?!”
 

At the end, save a little room for dessert on your way out at their xurro shop 180 Xurros & Xocolata up in the front. I’ve shared some pictures from 180 before but here’s a friendly reminder with Xuixos (a pastry that is a bit reminiscent of a croissant, stuffed with cream and fried and covered with sugar) and Xurros Rellenos 🙂

And here is the incredible couple proving their paella mettle in this video making Squid Ink Paella for OPB for more details on what is behind the paella:

Besides Paella Sundays, also look out for Patria Presents: Barrio Block Party (a Puerto Rican block party complete with a domino tournament with prize, vinyl salsa music along with the food), and a Chef Dinner Series. I attended the first Barrio Block party on August 6 and here are a few quick glimpses of what it offers from my Instastories during my visit.

Patria PDX Barrio Block Party with Puerto Rican homey food, piña coladas, old school salsa music from a turntable, pooches welcome, and a dominoes tournament
 

Ha ha I totally did not edit the music for this video, it was naturally was playing in the background on the turntable off a vinyl! Here’s the rice and beans in progress in the pan!

And the music! Old school salsa music via turntable. And they issued a challenge- “If you have an old school salsa vinyl at your place and want to have bragging rights over chef’s vinyl selection, bring yours and lets see.”!

Examples of what you will heard:
Hector Lavoe-Willie Colon
Ruben Blades
Ismael Rivera
Raphy Leavitt
And some Bomba y Plena ..!

And the food!

-Arroz blanco: White rice
-Habichuelas guisadas: Beans stew
-Pernil: Oven roasted pork shoulder
-Pollo Asado: roasted chicken
-Amarillos: Fried ripe plantains
-Aguacates: Avocados

Although walk ins are welcome, you can also make your reservation ahead of time and tickets to the Paella Sundays and Patria Barrio Party here.