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Category Archives: friends

aracena getaway!

10 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by azahar in trips, friends, travel, andalucia, getaways, writing, bitesize sevilla

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Andalucia, aracena, bitesize sevilla, jamon, travel

Excited and nervous. Last time I visited these little piggies in Jabugo was back in 2017, which was also the last time I went to Restaurante Arrieros in nearby Linares de la Sierra. And next week I’m going to do both again, along with quite a few other cool pig-related things. It all started when I ran into Adela & Luismi at Manolo Cateca in January and they told me they were retiring in July and so would be closing Arrieros. I made a mental note that I would have to visit again before then. Then I wrote my All About The Pig article for Bitesize Sevilla and thought a follow-up piece focusing on just jamón would be a good idea, and that I could combine a trip to the Sierra de Aracena to also do some research for the final part of the Bitesize Day Trips series. And THEN I was commissioned by Pellicle Magazine to write a piece on jamón cutters (!!). So aside from visiting Arrieros one last time I also had three articles to research, which (to me anyhow) totally justified taking a trip.

Gonna say it’s been complicated, especially trying to organise transportation (basically impossible to do this trip without a car). But with the help of friends and contacts it finally came together. I’ll be based in Aracena for two nights and during the three days I am there will be visiting my friends at Finca Buenvino, jamón producers in Jabugo and Corteconcepción, restaurants in Linares and Fuenteheridos, along with the Jamón Museum and Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders) in Aracena. Stay tuned!

cathy’s back!

08 Wednesday Apr 2026

Posted by azahar in friends, sevilla

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friends, sevilla, tapas

Cathy is back in town this week and today we met up for a quick catch up. Last time (actually also the first time) I saw her was back in 2019. We started off at Manolo Cateca for a cheeky sherry before heading over to La Barra de Cañabota, which Cathy hadn’t been to for. A lovely time, delicious bites and lots of chat. See you soon, Cathy!

kalé

26 Thursday Mar 2026

Posted by azahar in casa azahar, cats, friends, sevilla

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casa azahar, friends, sevilla

Kalé has been back in Sevilla this month (she was last here in 2019). This is her final week and I’m going to miss her. Kalé was one of the first lodgers I had in my second Casa Azahar, close to 25 years ago (!!!). Hard to believe we’ve known each other so long, and that she has met ALL of my cats, well other than Morcilla, but will try to remedy that before she leaves.  Meanwhile, Kalé has been helping me out with Tapas Research and it looks like we will be able to squeeze in one more lunch this weekend.

she’s home

05 Thursday Mar 2026

Posted by azahar in friends, sevilla

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friends, sevilla

My friend Reyes left for Dubai on Sunday February 22nd with plans to return home a week later. She and her husband Juan Carlos were travelling with friends going to see their daughter who has been working there. And well, we all know what happened. Since last weekend I’ve been on tenterhooks after Reyes described that first night of bombing and with the phone alarm going off at midnight and people not knowing what to expect. We’ve been in contact every day, sharing whatever information we had. Luckily my Substack pal Liam Collens, a food and culture writer who lives in Dubai, was also able to pass on some helpful info and advice. And then today I got the best whatsapp message ever… “We’ve just landed in Madrid!”

Soooooo relieved, of course. And I can’t wait to see Reyes again and give her the biggest of hugs. But I gotta say, wow, there’s been such a load of judgemental bullshit online (where else?) ranging from tut-tutting anyone who would travel to the middle east and “support” such regimes to schadenfreudeing about anyone caught up there because somehow they all “deserve it”. Wtf.

Obviously you can think what you like, and I have a few opinions (who me?) about some people I know who have either moved to or opened businesses there, but surely people must realise that not everyone there is a millionaire tax-dodger or insufferable lifestyle influencer, and that even if they are… do they deserve to die in this heinous illegal war? Does anybody? I am too disgusted by it all to say any more about it. I just want to say… Welcome Home Reyes! See you soon 🥰

birthday boy

02 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by azahar in birthdays, friends, home, tapas, tapas bars

≈ 2 Comments

Yep, he’s 73 now. We actually did Birthday Lunch at Salpicón and a visit to the Alcázar yesterday, final chance to see the Sorolla exhibit, but today (instead of cake) Peter got the now “traditional” arabic baklava, these ones from my friend Fourat’s fabulous Beirutina. Happy Birthday Peter! 🥳

lunch at Salpicón

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