‘We have to take revenge by selling fish and chips soaked in tea’: Spaniards erupt in anger over M&S selling Chorizo Paella Croquetas (and even the British ambassador gets involved)
Marks and Spencer have angered Spanish shoppers over sales of Chorizo Paella Croquetas. Critics say that ‘wars have been declared for less’.
The product was added to the M&S ‘Master Deli’ range in August, alongside Honey Glazed Mini Chorizo Sausages, a ready-to-eat Spanish Gazpacho and Smoky Chicken and Chorizo Empanadas.
However, it’s the £5.50 ‘croquetas’ – with paella rice, chorizo, saffron and béchamel sauce – that have caused a big reaction among shoppers this month.
Traditionally, croquetas consist of minced meat or fish and béchamel sauce – and X users argued that M&S’s side dish would be more accurately described as arancini, which contain rice and are covered in breadcrumbs.
After spotting them in their local store, an irate customer sent a photo to Madrid-based writer Simon Hunter – who went viral on X, formerly known as Twitter, for his playful take on a ‘Spanish tortilla’ with frankfurters in April .
The £5.50 side dish (pictured) was added to M&S’s ‘Master Deli’ range in August – but X users argued the croquetas were more accurately described as arancini
Inviting his 6,400 followers to comment, Simon shared the photo and wrote: ‘NO NO NO.’
Since the image was posted last week, it has been viewed more than 50,700 times, sparking heated debate among X users.
A Spanish user wrote: ‘We should take revenge by selling fish and chips soaked in tea or something like that. Any idea?’
In response, another Spaniard added: “Lemon curd with cucumber sandwich crumbs.”
“Wrong on every level,” wrote a third. ‘Just call them arancini with chorittzzo.’
A fourth replied: ‘Wars have been declared for less in the past.’
“Jesus,” said a fifth. ‘Is NOTHING sacred?’
Meanwhile, another joked: ‘Handmade in Spain?’ With armed bodyguards, I would imagine.’
Even the British ambassador to Spain joined the debate – labeling the court ‘wrong on every level’
Furthermore, the post even caught the attention of Hugh Elliott, the British Ambassador to Spain and Andorra.
Describing the dish as “wrong on every level,” he added: “Chorizo, yes! Paella, yes!
‘Croquetas, yes! All together? … M&S, what have you done?’
However, he later added, “Maybe I’m just hungry, but shall we taste them?” I’m yet to try something from M&S Foodhall that I don’t like… who knows, maybe we’ll have to eat our words too?’
Speak with The TelegraphSpanish chef Omar Allibhoy said the idea for the croquetas was “cheap” but “not authentic.”
He explained: ‘The confusion comes from paella getting lost in translation. In Valencia, where paella comes from, they call only one dish paella, containing rabbit, chicken, string beans, artichokes and snails.
“Everything else is called arroz – which means rice. In the rest of Spain this does not apply and we call it paella if it is cooked in a paella pan. Ultimately, taste, texture, flavor, enjoyment and convenience will speak for themselves – let the audience be the judge.”