Category Archives: friends

de lentejas y caviar

18 Wednesday Feb 2026

Posted by in books, friends, gastronomy, spain, writing

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Look what has arrived! My good friend Jorge Guitián has published his first solo book. Congratulations Jorge! Now all I need is for him to come to Sevilla and sign it. 🙂

This essay reflects on how cuisine has become a powerful mirror of societal transformations. It questions issues such as the meaning of haute cuisine, the role of criticism, culinary traditions, and new food dynamics. But it is not only a diagnosis: it is also a poetic and urgent call to reconnect with what is authentic, familiar, and everyday.

okay, just one more!

02 Monday Feb 2026

Posted by in birthdays, friends, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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I managed to squeeze in one more Birthday Lunch on Saturday, making a grand total of seven in all. Not bad! Paul had been in (and around) town over the past week with his daughter Molly and her husband Alex, also visiting Cádiz and Jerez. It was starting to look like I wouldn’t see them due to weather travel disruptions, etc but then on their last day we found time to meet up for a quick lunch at El Manijero (and also so Paul could pick up his L’Armanaque) before they caught their bus to Málaga. And so now that January is over that’s definitely all the birthday fun until next year.

birthday month draws to a close

29 Thursday Jan 2026

Posted by in birthdays, friends, restaurants, sevilla

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Last but not least for this year’s birthday lunch celebrations… I finally got together with Reyes! We’ve been trying all month but what with one thing or the other it didn’t happen until now. But it was well worth the wait. Reyes had never been to Desacato and so off we went, stopping on the way for a quick sherry at Manolo Cateca (happily the rain held off). A fabulous feast in the best company… and there was even “cake” (actually a smoked dark chocolate mousse with crunchy salt and orange peel). Then a penĂşltima at RamĂłn’s Gran CafĂ© España and just as I was arriving home the rain started up again. A perfect day.


Chef Pablo Carrasco is one of Los Chicos de Petit.

more birthday fun

26 Monday Jan 2026

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

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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 prĂłxima!