Category Archives: sevilla

cava wine wednesday

03 Wednesday Dec 2025

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It was a very special Wine Wednesday with a cava tasting at Delatierra Vinoteca with wines from Bodega L’Origan presented by founder Carlos Martínez. Ranging from light, fresh “drinkable” wines to more complex “toasty” ones it was proof once again that not only is there a cava for everyone, but also that it pairs with pretty much everything. Really good time, thanks Hiniesta & Carlos!

🥂 Aire Brut Nature
🥂 Aire Rosé Brut Nature
🥂 L’O Brut Nature Edición 2
🥂 L’O Rosé Brut Nature Edición 5

clausura del año de los vinos de sevilla

02 Tuesday Dec 2025

Posted by in academia sevillana gastronomy turismo, sevilla, wine

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Every year the Academia Sevilla de Gastronomía chooses a local product to feature and 2025 has been the Año de los Vinos de Sevilla. The closing ceremony for the year was today and it was held at the Cruzcampo Foundation. What used to be an easy half-hour trip on the 27 bus is now an hour-long trek with the bus stop twice as far from home. As it was raining I had to wait for it to let up because I can’t use an umbrella with the crutches so I arrived almost an hour late. But although I missed a large portion of the presentation I was well on time for the reception that followed. As usual it was great to meet up with everyone, something I haven’t been able to do as much lately.

I was thrilled to become a member of the Academia in 2023 and have enjoyed participating in the various events and activities held throughout each year. But being on crutches has limited my ability to join in, with some visits requiring a lot of walking or standing, and others that we are required to pay for, like special dinners which, on top of the annual fee, are just not possible for me anymore. Because I’m also not able to work. So very sadly I think I will have to (I hope temporarily) resign from the Academia until I am able to participate fully again.

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, here’s an article I wrote in honour of the Año de los Vinos de Sevilla, all about The Wines of Sevilla. Cheers! 🍷

silicone sunday

01 Monday Dec 2025

Posted by in air fryer, azahars kitchen, cooking, homecooking, sevilla

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Well this works! I was in the middle of preparing yesterday’s lunch when I noticed that the roasting pan I had bought for the air fryer a couple of years ago was in pretty bad shape. A quick look online and a quick trip to El Corte Inglés later and… brand new “BPA free” silicone thingy. I was a bit unsure about it at first, and being non-biodegradable they’re not exactly “eco-friendly”,  but oh well. It’s mine now. As for functionality, it cooked everything just fine but it doesn’t really brown food as it doesn’t conduct heat. Anyhow, it will be useful for stuff like this…

Free-range chicken thighs marinated in yoghurt, lemon/lime and spices, with garbanzos, red onions, baby spinach and cilantro. Recipe here. 

arancini o’clock

28 Friday Nov 2025

Posted by in air fryer, casa azahar, home, homecooking, recipes, sevilla

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I swear the main reason I make risotto is so I can make arancini from the leftovers. This was a smoked salmon and baby spinach one but almost any risotto will work. I used to just add more grated parmesan when I made the rice balls, but now I put a small cube of cheese in the middle (usually manchego) and bread them twice, first in fine breadcrumbs, then egg, then panko.

Fried until nicely browned in evoo and then finished in the air fryer. That way they get all hot and melty inside without burning. I usually cook them all at once (to get all the messy frying out of the way) and then freeze half, which are then ready to thaw and reheat in the air fryer any time. 

jeanine

27 Thursday Nov 2025

Posted by in friends, sevilla

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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.