17 Monday Mar 2014
Posted in food & drink, friends, tapas, wine
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I have new neighbours! Valenska and Fernando – Paladar y Tomar on Twitter – recently moved to Sevilla from Barcelona, and yesterday we got to meet in person. A lunchtime tapeo wandering through sunny azahar-scented streets that didn’t finish until almost 9 pm… I guess you could say we hit it off. Lovely people with much wit and charm. I hope to see them often.
How was your Sunday?
25 Tuesday Feb 2014
Flamenquin con salmorejo (Córdoba) | Gazpachuelo (Málaga)
Andrajos (Jaén) | Tortilla de Sacromonte (Granada)
Yep, the things I do for my public. This was not just lunch but a tapas tour around Andalucía. Andalucía is one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions, comprising eight provinces. As a very clever way of celebrating Andalucía day (this Friday) Juanlu at La Pepona came up with the idea of offering one traditional tapa from each Andalusian province. And here they are!
Olla de trigo (Almería) | Tortillitas de Camarones (Cádiz)
Huevos a la flamenca (Seville) | Habas con chocos (Huelva)
I was aided in this endevour (which I could never have managed on my own!) by Peter @SVQconcierge and Markus @veoapartment. We fearlessy tasted each provincial delight for you, including crunchy pig’s ear and BRAINS. Thanks guys!
12 Wednesday Feb 2014
Posted in death & dying, friends
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I was walking home late after a tapas tour and passed by the bar where my friend Antonio used to work part time, to help support his “photography habit“. And suddenly I stopped and stared into the window for I don’t know how long, still not believing that I would never see Antonio again. That I’d never be able to go into that bar again and complain to him about the crap wine. That in fact I’d never be able to go into that bar again at all. It hurts.
05 Wednesday Feb 2014
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People often ask me if there is anything I miss from “home” (meaning Canada) and, once I point out that Spain is my home, the answer is no. Well okay, maybe fresh wood-oven baked bagels from Toronto. But one thing I do miss from the UK is Marks & Spencer, especially their lingerie department. Longtime readers with long memories may remember my many failed attempts at getting into Gibraltar in order to buy underwear. Happily, with the arrival of online shopping I can now order my M & S knickers from home. But since I don’t know how the sizes convert, I still need to use the UK site (which doesn’t deliver to Spain) and have stuff delivered to a friend there and then they forward it to me here. So this was the special delivery from Marks & Spencer yesterday, via dear friend Lizzie in Bristol. Should keep me going for awhile…
30 Thursday Jan 2014
Posted in Florence, food & drink, friends, sevilla, tapas
My English travel writer friend Nicky Swallow and her Italian photo journalist husband Luca are visiting Sevilla this week and yesterday we met for a bit of lunch. I met Nicky in London a few years back when we both were hired to write for SimonSeeks – a job that, at the time, truly saved my financial butt. Last time we met was a couple of years ago when she and Luca were here on holiday. Nicky keeps saying I MUST come to Florence off-season and stay at their holiday rental apartment… she may yet wear me down. 🙂
casa azahar 