22 Tuesday Sep 2020
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Gotta say that people are getting quite inventive when it comes to working with (in and around) Covid-19. This year not only is International Sherry Week going virtual, but for the first time people organising events at home can also register online and be put on the Global Sherry Map. I’m going to have to think of a few things to do. 🙂
09 Wednesday Sep 2020
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I don’t know anyone who calls this square Plaza de Jesús de la Pasión. In fact, if you asked people for directions to that name I’m sure many locals would have no idea. It used to be called the Plaza del Pan and, well, it still is except for maybe by the city council.
In Medieval times the square was known as Debajo de San Salvador (Under the San Salvador) or simply De Abajo, as the massive San Salvador Church looms next to it. The name Plaza del Pan dates back to the 17th century from the many bread stalls that were located there at that time. In 1914 there was a request by neighbours to change the name to reference the Christ that is associated with the Salvador Church. But it’s still called Plaza del Pan by everyone I know.
Anyhow, I was walking home the other day and saw this view and thought how the awning looked like a sail. Love this plaza.
04 Friday Sep 2020
Posted in coronavirus, restaurants, sevilla, spain, tapas bars
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For the most part the tapas bars and restaurants I have been to over the past couple of months have been doing their best with taking precautions and keeping their establishments as safe as possible for both staff and clients. But you know, nobody’s perfect and also, as time passes, people tend to slack off a bit. Even as a second wave looms (reported cases and deaths keep mounting) some people are still in denial. Not me though! I am not only at a higher risk of catching this fucker due to previous cancer and chemo, but with my age, etc, I am also not likely to survive it. So yeah, you could say I have a vested interest in how the public is behaving in terms of the pandemic.
The other day I posted this photo of stacked up bread baskets on my Instagram. Some of you may remember that this disgusting practice has always been, well, disgusting to me. I mean, the baskets (filled with bread and often also napkins and cutlery) are put on tables, placed on chairs, passed from person to person, then taken away, stacked up, NEVER CLEANED, and then reused. In some cases, even the uneaten bread is “recycled” (yes, I have seen this happen with my own eyes). And while it was always an unsanitary and disgusting practice before COVID, now it’s actually criminal.
03 Thursday Sep 2020
Posted in restaurants, sevilla, spain, tapas bars
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The topic of restaurant booking deposits has been a hot one in London for quite some time now, and I think it is about to become an issue here too. Frankly, since lockdown was lifted, the bars and restaurants that have managed to reopen are all in “survival mode” and, if they are lucky, are just breaking even. So when I saw my friend Javi report on Twitter that he has had groups of 6 and 10 as no-shows this past week and that he has decided to ask for a deposit upon booking, I completely agreed with him.
I have always thought this was a totally reasonable request, with a 24-hour cancellation policy, otherwise you forfeit your deposit. Even at the best of times restaurants seriously suffer from no-shows, especially when more than one happens during a service, or if they are larger groups. It seems there have always been assholes who will book 3-4 restaurants and then decide last minute which one they want to go to and then don’t have the decency to make a quick call to cancel their extra bookings. Clearly these are not the best of times and so a deposit would help put a stop to this.
I honestly don’t understand the resistance to this policy. As I said to Javi, if these people don’t want to pay a deposit then they are not your people. Because a no-show is even worse than a last-minute cancellation as the table is held… and held… and other possible walk-in clients are turned away until it’s too late.
I should think that with all our favourite bars and restaurants struggling to reopen and get back on their feet we would all be happy to put our money where our mouths are and make sure they are covered in case of… I don’t know. Possibly forgetting we had a booking? Because I don’t personally know anyone who would just not show up. But as I say, it’s a problem because people can often be thoughtless and selfish, as we have been shown many times during this pandemic.
What do you think? Would you be fine about leaving a deposit on your credit card for a bar or restaurant booking?
26 Wednesday Aug 2020
Posted in coronavirus, friends, sevilla, spain, tapas, tapas bars
Last Sunday I was out for a walk and, well, FUCK IT WAS HOT, so I thought I’d take a detour on my way home to see if one of my fave places Taberna de Pasos Largos was open for a cold beer (as it used to always be open on Sundays). Well, not only was it closed… IT WAS GONE. I mean, totally gone. Empty. And my heart broke a little, once again.
The toll of this fucking virus can be seen everywhere, but in my own world I am (so far) mostly affected by the restrictions it puts on me, including having lost my job and only source of income, as well as the loss of so many wonderful bars and restaurants. And this time I lost something very special. I don’t even know what to say, other than I will miss Paco, Pepe and Isi very much. Yes the food was great, the wine too, but I will mostly miss just being there with them. So sad. 
Paco & Pepe
Isi
Isi
casa azahar 