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Category Archives: tapas bars

fish plates!

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by azahar in restaurants, sevilla, tapas bars

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bars, restaurants, sevilla, tapas

fish plates

After Monday’s GP visit we decided to stop for a quick Beer O’clock at Los Claveles, a very popular traditional bar that just happened to be half-way between the health centre and the bus stop home. After scoring a table in front of the large open windows we decided to stay for lunch, since it was actually lunchtime by then and I hadn’t updated their review on Sevilla Tapas since 2015 (!).

Anyhow, the tables were all set up with these pretty fish plates and when I asked our waiter where they came from he said he had bought them at a little shop in Marbella. Dang. But later on, after paying I went up to the bar and cheekily asked if I could buy a couple of the plates… then was totally surprised when the owner told his son “just give them to her!”. Score! I mean I was happy to pay for them, but it was a lovely gesture on their part.

This reminded me of many bar owners I know who “lose” their glasses, plates, cutlery on a daily basis because of assholes who want a “souvenir”. One bar I know lost two dozen monogrammed sherry glasses on one night when a bunch of drunken tourists decided to take them home and got away before the staff noticed. I also know a michelin starred place that had to change their fabulous cutlery because clients were making off with sets of them. Wtf guys… JUST ASK. Often the bar is happy to let you have the item(s) at cost price, and sometimes, yes, as a free souvenir. But just taking them… well, that’s stealing isn’t it. Show a bit of respect.

cervecería internacional

22 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by azahar in history, sevilla, spain, tapas bars

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casa moreno, cerveceria internacional, sevilla

cerveceria int (2)

I don’t know how I never knew this. I had Cervecería Internacional on my “to do” list of tapas bars to update after I noticed that the last time was in 2012 (!!!). So checked their website to see when they would reopen after their summer holidays and there was also a link to page on Casa Moreno. What the heck? And so I started googling around and found out that both places were started by Francisco Moreno (!!!). Casa Moreno was founded in 1945 and then in 1987 Francisco was offered the space a few doors down and decided to expand on his collection of international beers that he sold in his small bar at the back of the food shop.

Francisco Moreno’s daughter Antonia, along with her husband Antonio, took over running the cervecería while Francisco junior and his wife Carmen ran the abacería. Still with me? These days the grandchildren are in charge, with Antonio junior at the beer bar with his right hand Carlos and Marta Moreno with her brother Fran running the shop and bar along with the venerable Emilio, who has been with them for 40 years.

To think that a week ago I knew nothing of the family connection between these two bars, despite Casa Moreno being one of the places I consider home here. Anyhow, loved doing the research, both online and in person. Since it looks like I’m going to be on enforced leave for a while to come (can’t walk!) maybe I should get onto writing that book!

cerveceria int (16)Carlos, Antonio Jr & Antonio Sr (2024)

cerveceria int (29)Juanma & Antonio Sr (2012)

the great pumpkin

13 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by azahar in food & drink, sevilla, spain, tapas bars

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dona emilia, los palacios, sevilla, tapas bars

great pumpkin (1)

Here’s Peter with a pumpkin that weighs more than he does. We stopped in for a snack at Doña Emilia yesterday, which is the riverside restaurant/tapas bar of the Manolo Mayo family. This 100 kilo specimen was apparently their runner-up in the largest veg-fruit competition held annually in Los Palacios (where the Mayo family is from and where they have their original restaurant and their own vegetable garden). So the even bigger pumpkin and giant watermelons (also winners) stayed in Los Palacios.

great pumpkin (2)

beer o’clock therapy

06 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by azahar in health, health & happiness, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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beer o´clock, health, sevilla

beer oclock therapy

I guess I should have known something was up when I barely managed to drag myself out for an evening walk last Friday and after that spent two entire days hiding out at home. I say “hiding out” because that’s what it felt like. I blamed my KNEE because, frankly, walking hurts like fuck. But there was something else going on, I think. And maybe that’s what led to yesterday’s HOME PANIC ATTACK.

Today started off fine. I managed a reasonable 5 hours of sleep (4 + 1 later on) and felt okay. Got my “office work” out of the way and then did a good cardio chair workout. But then what? Early afternoon is when I prefer to go out. Sometimes for lunch, or to go shopping and run errands, getting those steps in before it get too hot. But I wasn’t feeling it and just when I was about to cave and stay home I remembered that I hadn’t posted a Beer O’clock pic on Instagram since last Friday. OMG.

Thing is, people often think I am eating (and drinking) out every day because I post photos on my Sevilla Tapas social media accounts every day. But… hey, that’s my job. And I mean, that’s the “magic” of social media of course, nothing is ever as it seems. EXCEPT my Beer O’clock photos. Those are the only photos I upload in real time (no cheating!).

And so that’s what got me dressed and out the door today, FUCK THE KNEE. I mean, whatever it takes, right? And well, it was fine. I’m glad I went out, but I’m not gonna lie, it hurt like crazy and I had to keep stopping for a break, literally gasping in pain at times. But I got to sit at the bar in Las Teresas, have a frosty cold beer, chat with the barman and the owner and feel like I always do in these lovely Sevilla bars of mine… totally at home. Worth it.

bar lento

31 Wednesday Jul 2024

Posted by azahar in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, tapas, tapas bars

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bar lento, tapas bar, winchester

bar lento

Last July I finally got to meet Sarah and Ian in person. Sarah and I had been online pals for years so it was great to finally get together and go out on a full-on Sherry & Tapas Tour. At the time Sarah was telling me about her plans to open a tapas bar in Winchester, UK called Bar Lento. And guess what? It opened in May! And by all accounts it’s going very well, with locals and visitors alike showing an interest. So this most recent trip back was to do a little research and hook up with some sherry suppliers. And I was very happy they made some time to meet up for lunch during their quick visit. We started off at Taberna Manolo Cateca (Sevilla’s sherry temple) and then went to one of my new all time faves Augurio. A fabulous afternoon.

If you’re in the Winchester area, check out Bar Lento.

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