Category Archives: friends

more birthday fun

26 Monday Jan 2026

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My Dublin pal Michele (you pronounce that Mi-ke-lay) was back in town this past weekend and we met up for a Beer O’clock that turned into a full-on afternoon full of deliciousness. Yet more birthday fun (it ain’t over till it’s over). First we went to Ultramarinos Casa Lucas because I was finishing up my next Bitesize Sevilla article and needed some photos, and after that Michele was happy to accompany me (and Peter) while I did further research, this time to a brand new wine bar that just happens to be directly across the street from my previous Casa Az. You remember, the one where I didn’t get any sleep for five years.

Anyhoodle, both stops were fabulous, and as always, it was great catching up with Michele again, who says he’ll be back in Sevilla a few more times this year as there are several concerts he wants to attend. Later on he also went to Augurio. Like me, he is totally in love with that place and not only visits every time he’s here but (also like me) he sends everyone he knows there when he hears they are visiting Sevilla. Hasta la próxima!

julie & steve are back!

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

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After seven long years these two lovelies are back in town. Briefly. They’ve been spending the month in Málaga but popped up to Sevilla for a quick visit. And what a time we had… a belated birthday lunch at Augurio. A perfect way to spend a cold, rainy January afternoon, with good friends, good food, and some rather spectacular wines…

Thanks so much for coming up for a visit and for treating me to a magnificent meal. Glad you got to meet Carmen too. We were a trio of mandonas but somehow Steven survived. Come back soon! xx

Carmen, Steven & Julie

lunch with lucy

15 Thursday Jan 2026

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Lucy and I have birthdays a day apart (me Jan 7, Lucy Jan 8) and so we always try to get together during January to for a birthday lunch. This time we went to La Casa del Tigre and it couldn’t have been better. Some fizz to start then a wonderful starter (mini brioche filled with manteca colorá), a gorgeous seasonal mushroom dish (chanterelles, níscolas, lengua de buey) with egg yolk and shaved truffles, THOSE confit patatas bravas and a super tender (monster) angus beef rib. We had a great time catching up. Wonderful wine, fab food, lovely company… a good day.

jeanine

27 Thursday Nov 2025

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I’ve known Jeanine since she and her (now ex) husband Juan opened La Azotea back in 2009. And we’ve been friends ever since. She has been there for anniversaries, (both mine and hers) and even personally delivered my special treat Lockdown Lunch from Dan & Deb. Just to say, she’s always been there over the years, though we don’t often find a chance to meet up in person (usually we bump into each other in the street as she is whizzing by on her way somewhere and promise to do lunch “soon”). Well, it finally happened this week and it was great. First lunch at La Cayetana and then a penúltima at Gran Café España, all the while talking non-stop and catching up with ALL the gossip. Between the two of us we must know everyone in the restaurant biz here.

We also caught up on each other’s lives, what we’ve been up to, future plans, etc. It was such a treat to feel safe sharing my thoughts and feelings and, well, also to feel cared about. Doesn’t happen much these days. Anyhow, it was a great day and who knows when we’ll manage to meet up again but it’s a real comfort knowing Jeanine is out there. Abiding.

jorge

20 Thursday Nov 2025

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Not many people could get me out of my comfy chair (and out of my pyjamas) for an impromptu meet up on a chilly November evening, but an unexpected message from Jorge Guitian did the trick. He was stuck in town overnight when, returning from a job in Cádiz his flight home was cancelled, so of course I had to take him to Augurio. Just for a light snack and a quick catch up, and then he was off again. Sorry for the wonky photo Jorge, caught you off guard  (he’s actually quite a handsome devil, folks).

Missing are pics of the anchovy with blue cheese butter  and the crispy corn tortilla with butterfish ceviche, but here we have the carrillada and manitas ravioli in foie sauce, a beef rib taco with pickled veg and guacamole, and papaya marinated in oloroso, with sage and miso, toasted sponge cake and hazelnut ice cream. It really was a lovely surprise. Jorge is a dear friend and I don’t get to see him often enough. Hasta la próxima!