Bora Bora vs Costa Brava’s paella

In 1996 while sailing with my husband and our good friends, Liza, Greg, Loraine and John, we stopped at the Bora Bora yacht club for Paella and were told that we could only have paella if we ordered 24 hours in advance. We are intrigued so stayed in Bora Bora for the additional day to insure we were able to try this concoction that took 24 hours to prepare.  The next day, we sat down and the waiter brought out a dish the size of a bathtub with literal gallons of paella. We protested that we could never eat it all ,but after two hours scarcely a morsel of paella was left.  I have had my share of paella since then and even tried my hand at making it.  My version, of course, ended up a lumpy, clumpy mess because I am incapable of not stirring the rice every 5 minutes which renders the rice the consistency and texture of rice pudding. Nice in a pudding, disgusting in a paella.  No paella can ever compare to that version, which although not my first paella, is definitely my most memorable.  Something about eating in Tahiti after having just jumped off your sailboat improves the flavor!  The 1000 Foods you Eat Before you Die book specifies paella as a food to eat but I had already checked that off the list. It also specifies Angulas (baby eels) (and the description is that they look like pasta with eyes) and also Soupa de Ajo (garlic soup).  A couple of my good friends, Sunny and Jeremy, let me know about a Spanish place called Costa Brava in Pacific Beach.   A search of the menu revealed both

baby eels AND garlic soup and more paella.  Last night I took my darling daughter who has recently returned from a trip to Jerusalem along with my two dear Salt Lake friends, Michelle and Kristen, to Costa Brava.  It was with great trepidation that I ordered the garlic baby eels.  I almost wussed out and didn’t order them. I do not know how to convince anyone who is hesitant to give them a try but I will say that they were amazing.  The garlic soup was not my most favorite, but the paella came with Tahitian breezes and brought me back to Bora Bora one more time.