Category Archives: food & drink

the boyz are back in town

24 Thursday Nov 2022

Posted by in food & drink, friends, restaurants, sevilla

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Richie, Michael, Juanlu, Frank & Pankaj

Can’t actually remember the first time(s) I met Michael and Frank, the dynamic duo behind Renoir Guides. Quite a few years ago now. And as Michael lives in London and Frank on the Costa del Sol we end up meeting up separately more often than together, either here or there. But this week is different! All the boyz are here, including Pankaj (who I’ve met before) and Richie (first time). And what a kick off we had. Sherry and aperitifs at Manolo Cateca and then lunch at Cañabota. And omg what a lunch it was. The last time I was at Cañabota was for my birthday in 2019 and since then Juanlu and team have garnered their first Michelin star (2021).

Funniest thing was walking into Manolo Cateca to meet the boyz and there was Sam! (of Charlie & Sam). I mean, what were the odds? Not only was he just passing through town but the last time I saw him and Charlie was on my birthday in 2019, just after my last meal at Cañabota when they met me for some celebratory cava. Mind blown.

It was an amazing afternoon, fun catching up and the food was spectacular, every bite was perfection and the wines were gorgeous. Many many thanks to the boyz for taking me out for this unforgettable experience.

Highlights from the superb Cañabota tasting menu below. Tomorrow I’m taking the guys on a Tasting Triana Tour. God help me…

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sonìa is back!

22 Tuesday Nov 2022

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, social media, spain, twitter

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sonia is back

I don’t remember when I first “met” Sonìa Graupera @graupix on Twitter… it was many, many years ago. Then two years ago (almost to the day) we finally met up in person here in Sevilla and I saw her again when I was in Barcelona last May. So I was happy to hear that she’d be back in Sevilla on a whirlwind trip this week and would have a few hours to meet up for lunch. Which happened today! I’ve said it before but omg I have met some amazing people via social media, and especially Twitter. And meeting them in person has never been a disappointment. I guess because we already know we have things in common. Anyhow, it was a fun and slightly frantic afternoon, but we visited a few tapas bars and talked-talked-talked and then it was time to say hasta la próxima. Nice day.

mahon

14 Monday Nov 2022

Posted by in food & drink, gastronomy, sevilla, sherry

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mahon

I thought I had missed this! Somewhere in my muddled mind I almost remembered I’d been invited to a lovely tasting of Mahon cheeses at the lovely Antigua Abacería San Lorenzo, and I even had it in my calendar for today. But yesterday on Twitter I saw that the tasting was underway and just chalked it up to me having no brain any more. But then, since I hadn’t been back to the Abacería in ages it seemed like a good idea to pop over for lunch, reckoning a Monday wouldn’t be too busy. So imagine my surprise when I showed up and Ramón ushered me upstairs and… there was cheese everywhere!

Turned out that yesterday’s event was the public promotion for Quesos La Payesa but today was for journalists, influencers and… me! And it was fabulous. Not just amazing cheese but we were also treated to a very tasty lunch (caesar salad, mushroom risotto, cheesecake) all made with Mahon cheeses. We were offered any wines we wanted and I chose sherries (manzanilla and amontillado). An unexpected pleasure.

the weekly blt

03 Thursday Nov 2022

Posted by in casa azahar, food & drink, homecooking

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weekly blt

It seems the BLT has gone from being my favourite summer sandwich to simply being my favourite sandwich. I mean, it’s got everything! An entire meal in a toasted seedy sourdough bun. BUT I realise that I have to limit myself to one a week, otherwise I might be making them all the time. So… something to look forward to. Is there anything you feel you have to limit?

mrs & mr o return…

02 Wednesday Nov 2022

Posted by in food & drink, friends, fun stuff, sevilla, spam

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ana

… this time with little Ms O, aka Sara (she’s the white heart face on the left). It had been far too long since Ana & Simon were here (back in 2018) and so much has happened since then, both in a personal and global way, for all of us. So I was delighted when Ana got in touch a while back saying they were planning a few days here in Sevilla at the end of October. Not only would I get to meet their daughter for the first time, but also Ana’s sister Renata, husband Pedro and son Antonio (white heart face upper right), plus family friend Elaine who was here visiting from Malaysia. We started off with a sherry tasting on the first evening, and the next day, after Renata and family arrived, we had a full on tapas tour. Gosh it was fun, and so great to catch up and reconnect. Now that Ana and Simon have a place on the Costa del Sol I’m hoping we won’t have to wait another four years to get together.