My name is Preston Todd and I am “The Unlikely Spaniard”. So how does a guy of Northern European Ancestry, who was born in Montana and raised in Idaho, become “The Unlikely Spaniard”? Let me tell you…

21 years ago, I married a beautiful Peruvian woman, Veronica, who is of Spanish decent and spent many years of her childhood living in Spain. Veronica loves Spanish culture—the food, the wine, the music, the dancing, and the history. We lived in the U-district in Seattle and decided to rent a room to a visiting Psychology Professor, Azucena, from Spain. Azucena and her husband, Luca, became family to us after that first visit and have returned every year for the past 14 years.

Azucena, better known as “Azu from Spain” and Luca are incredible people; they are the Godparents of our kids, our mentors in Spanish cuisine and wine, and our most treasured friends. They have hosted us numerous times while traveling to Spain and we love them. Gracias, a Azu, a Luca y a toda su familia!

As is the custom for many families in the region surrounding Valencia, Azu and Luca gather with their family every weekend for Paella and/or Fideua. Since Azu and Luca came to visit us yearly, Azu would cook Paella and Fideua for our friends and families as her father back home in Spain did every weekend. Thus, my training began…

I started off as Azu’s errand boy (first visit), soon moved up to prep cook (second visit), and by her third visit I had become her apprentice. Through the past 14 years of cooking Paella, Fideua, and a variety of Tapas, I have become a “Paellero”, Paella Chef, who many have grown to call “The Unlikely Spaniard”.