Category Archives: food & drink

little salad dressing shaker thingy

09 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by in casa azahar, cooking, food & drink, home, homecooking

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Damn these summer sales! I once again find myself with another kitchen gadget that I didn’t know I needed until I saw it… and then also saw it was ON SALE. Not only cute but look how practical it is. The lid closes with an airtight snap while you shake up your favourite salad dressing, then easily opens for pouring. Also did I mention… SO CUTE!

I was actually looking for one of these simple squeeze bottles, like the (totally life-changing) one I bought for washing up liquid. Seriously, if you are not using one of these babies for your dish soap instead of a big clunky value-sized bottle of Fairy liquid, you do not know what you’re missing. It almost makes washing up a pleasure. Top tip: cut off the attached cap – not necessary.

So why was I looking for a squeeze bottle you ask? Well, I was remembering a time when I always had a pre-mixed “house dressing” ready to go that was not only perfect for drizzling over salads and other fresh veggies, but also was great on boiled potatoes, rice, even grilled fish and meats. I was reminded of this when I visited Finca Buenvino and watched the fabulous Jeannie whip out her bottle of “secret sauce” salad dressing and use it on almost everything, and it’s been on my mind ever since. So now I have the cutest bottle ever and just need to perfect my own secret sauce. Anyone want to share theirs?

mantúa

10 Wednesday Jul 2019

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

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[read full review of Mantúa on Azahar Tapas]

Last weekend I finally had the pleasure of visiting Mantúa, which had been on my “to-do” list pretty much since it opened in 2017 as it’s owned and run by chef Israel Ramos, who also owns one of my favourite places in Jerez, Albalá. I had made plans to go with friends Ann and Paul after the Harveys sherry tasting at the Consejo Regulador.

As you can see below, everything was beautifully presented, and the service was impeccable. Can’t really recommend Mantúa enough. It has the feeling of a place with real heart, and flavours that attest to the chef’s genuine love of his region. Unpretentious and about as perfect as a meal can get.

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phoebe & oli

09 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, spain, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours

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Although I have met up with Phoebe & Oli a few times while visiting London, and they have both been to Sevilla separately, this is the first time we have all met up together here. Yay!

It was a lovely day starting off with – what else? sherry and jamón – which led to a lunchtime tapeo (Las Teresas, La Barra del Inchausti, Palo Cortao). Finishing around 5 pm we took a break before meeting up again at 8.30. The plan had been to introduce them to Esteban and his fabulous vermutería Yo Soy Tu Padre and then leave them to have dinner elsewhere, but somehow one vermouth led to another, and we finished up eating rabbit ribs at La Azotea at 11 pm. Like you do.

These guys are doing a Spain roadtrip before they head back to London, pack up, and move to Australia, where Phoebe is from. So I guess that means no more London meet ups, but they assure me they will be back to Spain again before too long.

back in the kitchen

12 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in azahars kitchen, casa azahar, food & drink

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Some of you may know that one of my (too many?) websites is azahar’s kitchen, a recipe blog that I started back in 2009. It’s “moved house” a couple of times over the years, from WP.com to my own hosted sites.

Some of you may also be aware of a recent flutter of activity on that blog, which started after I published a new recipe (requested by my friend Ann when she saw a pic of my albóndigas al oloroso on social media). Then I found a bunch of photos that I had filed away for “later”, so I have added text to those and put them up too. There are still a couple to go.

This is totally a “hobby blog” just because I enjoy cooking, and also sharing the recipes I come up with (sometimes on my own, more usually a combination of several recipes I’ve found online or in books, which then get edited into one I prefer. So drop by and have a look. You can also subscribe to be notified when new recipes go up.  🙂

tim is back!

03 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla

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This is Tim’s @biltawulf third time in Sevilla. We first met (in person, before that we were Twitter pals) in 2016 when he came here with his friend Ed and took a tapas tour with me. The next year he was back with a group of friends to celebrate a Special Birthday. I also saw him a couple of weeks ago in London when I revisted Maltby Street Market.

This time Tim was supposed to be here with our mutual friend John @cityjohn, who I also saw in London during the last getaway, but sadly John had to be elsewhere this week. So Tim and I are doing our best to make him jealous with lots of sunny Sevilla pics while he shivers in the Scottish rain. It’s going to be a busy few days with Tim, which started off with a couple of cold beers followed by a nice evening tapeo. On Tuesday I’ll be taking him out on a sherry & tapas tour, after which he’s going to do a cooking class. And on his final day… who knows? Nice having him back in town.  🙂