I am the owner and head chef of Papa Paella, where I serve fresh, healthy, and delicious paella for the whole family to enjoy.

Every paella is made with passion and infused with my Italian flair, creating a unique twist on a Spanish classic. Whether you love my chicken and chorizo, chili beef, seafood or vegetarian/vegan paella, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. I have perfected my recipes to make them gluten free, nut free, dairy free, sugar free and MSG free. Come and visit me at my van in St Albans and experience the incredible burst of flavours that makes Papa Paella special.

Papa Paella is a dream that became a reality

Before becoming Papa full-time, I owned a garage for 25 years, until 2014. Inspired by the film Chef, I decided to leap into a completely new career in food – something I could never have done without the incredible support of my family. 

I first began trading at Enfield Charter Market, serving homemade Italian street food and fresh pasta. Over time, I experimented with combining Italian and Spanish flavours, which led to the creation of Papa Paella. After impressing the manager of St Albans Market, I was given the opportunity to establish a stall at the famous market – and the rest is history.

The people of St Albans and the local community have helped my business flourish, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support. You can find me cooking in St Albans Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at the St Albans Micro Market on Thursdays and Fridays, as well as festivals across Hertfordshire and London.

I also cater for private parties, weddings and large events – and many of my most loyal customers first discovered Papa Paella this way. If you’d like to hire me for an event, please visit the Hire Me page for more information.

Ciao, Carmelo