16 Saturday Jan 2021
Posted in food & drink, sevilla, tapas
It’s International Croquette Day! These are just a few of the delicious croquetas I’ve enjoyed over the past year. And yes, there were a few duds too (not pictured). For me croquetas are a litmus test for the quality of a tapas bar. Which reminds me that I haven’t made any for quite some time. That ought to keep me busy for a couple of afternoons. What’s your favourite filling?
09 Saturday Jan 2021
Posted in coronavirus, covid, sevilla, spain, tapas, tapas bars
I was supposed to have a perfectly on purpose lunch with my friend Lucy, since our birthdays are a day apart and we haven’t seen each other in ages. But when we arrived at the bar I’d chosen (a new place being run by my friend chef Javi Abascal) it was fully booked. Should have known as it was the first Saturday since the January sales started, and also the first non-rainy day all week. After checking out a couple of other places (all fully booked) Lucy and I decided to postpone our birthday lunch for another day, preferably mid-week. To be honest, I have only been going out to eat during the week and at an early hour so I get to places before they get busy.
Anyhow, since I was already dressed and outside I decided to take a river walk, something I haven’t done in far too long. And it was lovely. Meanwhile, my friend Peter had been in touch so I told him I’d be in the Alameda in about half an hour if he wanted to meet for a beer. Then, while I was waiting for Peter (by chance I’d stopped to check my phone in front of Al Aljibe) I saw a couple of women at a table in the terrace paying up (it was 3 pm by this time) and so I took possession of the table and told Peter where I was.
03 Thursday Dec 2020
Posted in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, tapas, tapas bars, wine
So ever since Reyes Morales joined me at Casa Román to help me celebrate my 27th Sevilla Anniversary I’ve been promising to bring her a bottle of a nice mencía rosado to try. We both have a preference for crisp white wines and rosés over reds and I discovered this rosado while looking for more economical ways to still enjoy wine while being completely broke. Anyhow, yesterday was finally the day! I showed up at Casa Morales with my chilled bottle of wine and we sat at the table Reyes had reserved for us, in front of an open window (so lots of ventilation) and she proceeded to order food for us. Well, between the two of us and Reyes’ husband Juan Carlos (who stopped by for a quick glass) the bottle didn’t last that long, so then we were on to the sherries.
I’ve known Reyes for a long time, but it’s only been in the past year or so that we’ve started connecting on a more personal level. She is truly a warm and wonderful person and we always have a great time when we get together. Well this time rosé led to sherry, which led to more sherry and eventually a penúltima down the street at Bodeguita Romero. I’m telling you, that chica is a bad influence. 😉
11 Wednesday Nov 2020
Posted in sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours
So yay! The latest National Geographic Traveller is out and I’M IN IT. It came as a bit of a surprise because I was happy to take the journo out in February while she was here, and also give her tips on where else to go in Sevilla. The idea was that she’d give my tapas tours a mention, not that I’d end up being talked about for almost a whole page. So that was nice. Still trying to get a copy. It never feels real for me until I hold the printed version in my hot little hands.
22 Thursday Oct 2020
Posted in coronavirus, covid, restaurants, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars
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Sevilla, along with Córdoba and Jaén, is getting hit with the same new restrictions that Madrid and Granada had imposed on them a couple of weeks ago. The measures will come into effect this Sunday, once they are published in the Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía. This rant post is mostly about how it’s going to affect the hospitality industry here.
Among the new measures announced by the Minister of Health…
