Category Archives: food & drink

lab4

03 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in food & drink, sevilla, work

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I’ve been looking forward to the opening of Lab4 ever since Juan Carlos García (owner of Puracepa and Albarama) first told me about his latest project a month or so ago. What I wasn’t expecting was that it would be for “members only”, which at first put me off as I dislike anything that smacks of cliquiness. And when I was told there is a 50 euro a year membership fee I thought “well, that counts me out” until Carlos explained that you actually get the fee back by using the membership card to pay your bar bill. Then Carlos took me on a tour of the place and I knew I would love being a part of it.

Located upstairs from Puracepa, directly across from City Hall in the Plaza San Francisco, Lab4 is on four levels. There are two main cocktail lounges on the first and second floors, both super chic and minimalist with spectacular views across the square. The third floor will be used to give bartending classes and can also be booked for private functions. The terraza will be open year round, weather permitting, and will serve as a smoking section as well as just a general open area to enjoy your drinks outdoors. My favourite seat is in the glassed-in balcony on the first floor – a wonderful spot with comfy sofas to sit and watch the world go by.

There’s a good selection of cocktails and an extensive list of premium spirits and liqueurs. Wine, cava and champagne are also available, as well as select beers (nothing on tap). Prices are pretty much what you’d expect, similar to upmarket hotels bars. And the service is professional and friendly.

Members can bring guests with them, up to three Monday – Thursday and up to two Friday – Sunday. It will be a great place for me to take Gourmet Tapas Tour clients at the end of the evening, especially in winter when the rooftop bars are mostly closed.

And I do love that first floor window seat…

[also posted on azahar’s Sevilla blog]

cava cata

29 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in food & drink, restaurants, sevilla, social media, tapas, wine, work

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So this is what I did last night!

What better way to further celebrate Tuesday’s good news than to go out to a free cava tasting the following evening. No question mark – rhetorical question. One of my all-time favourite tapas bars – La Azotea – has recently opened the new location of their fabulous Vinos & Más gourmet food and wine shop and last night was the first cata (wine tasting) featuring five fabulous Parxet cavas:  brut reserva, brut natura, gran reserva extra brut (my favourite), brut rosé and a dessert rosé. What I love about these catas at Vinos & Más is that they are casual and not at all snobby. I get to learn something new about wines and never feel silly about asking questions.

After the cata Nog & I were in need of a bit of something to eat and as La Azotea was jam-packed (as usual at that hour) we wandered over to a typical neighbourhood place called Dos de Mayo, which was also packed but their clientelle doesn’t linger as long. So we shared a few tapitas… always nice to mix business with pleasure, and especially when it ends up being mixing pleasure with pleasure…

andalucía sabor

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by in culture, food & drink, sevilla

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So this is what I’ll be doing over the next three days – attending the Andalucía Sabor Fine Food Exhibition – which kicks off this morning with a jamón slicing competition. Though in fact it began yesterday evening with an interesting and entertaining round-table discussion with three of Spain’s top chefs (Juan Mari Arzak, Carme Ruscalleda and Dani Garcia) about the Mediterranean diet and why eating locally and in season is so important.

Last year I had wangled an invitation to the Best New Chef competition so I guess I was still “on file” because of that, and so I was happy to receive an email a few weeks ago inviting me to attend this year’s Andalucía Sabor as Press or, more accurately, one of the bloggers that will be not only be allowed entrance (normal admission price is 75 euros) but also will have a blogger’s area with access to tables and plugs for laptops, etc. This would be an ideal moment to use the iPad I still don’t have. So I will just be armed with my iPhone as both laptops are too heavy to lug around all day, especially as I’m still having to wear the “faja” to hold my operation incision together.

And as if attending a three-day conference wasn’t enough I also have Sevilla Tapas Tours tonight and Thursday night, plus a presentation meeting with a prospective social media client tomorrow evening (another instance where an iPad would come in handy). Meanwhile I still have my daily work with my other clients to keep up with…

Speaking of which, best get that done while I down another cup of coffee, then I’ll have to hit the shower and get out of here. The conference centre is way the hell out near the airport, about half an hour on the bus, but at least there is a direct route there with the stop just five minutes from my house. Okay – gotta run!