a paella of the heart organized for single people and the most disadvantaged

It is an event almost anchored in the city of Bordeaux. For more than 25 years the bar-restaurant la Bodega Bodega organize a paella from the hearte December 25 of each year to allow those who woke up alone on the evening of December 24, and people in great precariousness, to come and spend a good moment of conviviality around a good paella, a glass of mulled wine and foie gras toast.

If last year, due to covid and health restrictions, the event could not be held, this year nearly 800 people in precarious situations like people on the street or living alone, have come together.

With guitars, trumpets and cymbals, a group and its singer, set the tone by singing music from the French repertoire and people put themselves to dance, sometimes between strangers. Other channels while waiting for the festive meal, which gives the event airs of a guinguette or a large family reunion.

800 people, that’s a lot of mouths to feed yet it is less than the 2019 edition which allowed 1000 people to come and eat always for free. In total this year, the Bodega Bodega which organizes the event has cooked more than 50 kilos of rice and as many shrimps, shellfish or chicken.

Donated ingredients free by suppliers of the restaurant.

After more than 25 years of paella from the heart, Emmanuel Dublé, one of the bosses of Bodega Bodega sees changes in beneficiary profiles. According to him, if the homeless always respond as much to the invitation, Emmanuel Dublé also sees the arrival of more and more families in need.

He confides that “of course the paella from the heart will run for as long as possible” but that one day he would like to no longer need to serve her. “It would be a good sign. This would mean that poverty would have disappeared “.