Category Archives: tapas

super mariano

10 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in culture, gastronomy, restaurants, sevilla, spain, tapas, tapas bars

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I’ve known Mariano García for more than 15 years, ever since I started going to his wonderful award-winning Cafetería Donald (which is now just five minutes from my house). I love stopping in, even just for a quick Cold Beer O’clock, and having a chat with everyone. Mariano has lived almost his entire life in this restaurant, which he started working at as a young waiter and eventually took over when the original owner retired. He has since expanded to the space next door opening Bodeguita La Hermandad, with a slightly different concept, but the kitchen is basically the same. What I love about The Donald is that it has remained very much a neighbourhood spot with a classic menu and top quality product. Recently his daughter Conchi has joined the team, so it looks likely to remain a family-run treasure for some time to come.

Mariano is the epitome of a traditional restaurateur, sadly a dying breed, and the walls of his establishment are festooned with various awards and accolades that he has garnered over the years. This week he received not one but two awards: the Premio Tabernero Mayor 2025 at San Sebastián Gastronomika and another at the XIV Gala Premios Tradiciones Sevillanas, recognising his contribution to our local culture and traditions. I’d seen both of these saw pop up on his Instagram so on the way home from my long lunch with the girls yesterday I stopped in and asked to see them. You can see how proud he (rightfully) looks showing them off to me. I also feel proud to know him and to have him as a long-time friend and neighbour. It’s people like Mariano who make my life here so special.

katie & co

06 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in sevilla, sherry, spain, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours

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Remember Katie & Paul? We met back in 2023 when Katie (a twitter/insta pal, that’s her on the right) looked me up while they were in town and we spent a lovely sherry-filled afternoon together. Then they came back in February this year for the first Bowland & Bay Sevilla Getaway and last week we did the second one. And you know what? I think we’re getting good at this! Apparently round three is going to happen in March.

Katie runs her adventure food company Bowland & Bay out of Lancashire UK so if you happen to live near there, or will be in the area, look her up. Below a couple of “after” shots from the Sherry Tour on Friday. On Thursday we did a Market and Tapas tour in Triana (both modified from the usual tours to accommodate a larger group and my limited mobility). A job well done!

a good day

21 Thursday Aug 2025

Posted by in bitesize sevilla, flamenco, life stuff, sevilla, tapas, tapas tours

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I almost didn’t go out today but, as I did stay-at-home yesterday, I gave myself a push and ended up so happy that I did. It wasn’t so blisteringly hot, down almost 10 degrees from last week, but I still hopped on the 32 bus for one stop to cut down on painful walking. On my way to the Flamenco Museum (researching an upcoming Bitesize Sevilla article) I was surprised to see Ultramarinos Lucas open. My friend Roger had told me about this place ages ago but every time I passed by it was closed. So of course I had to go in. An ultramarinos is a small grocery store / wine shop where you can often have a glass of something and a snack. So I went in and met Pablo, whose grandfather had started the shop more than 100 years ago. We had a nice long chat and I promised to come back to do a write up. 

In spite of the quick bus ride it was still a bit of a hike to the Museo so we decided to stop off for a quick Beer O’clock at Salmedina along the way. 

At the Museo I met with Carlos to get some help with how to structure my article and while I was there I was hit with such a feeling of… almost like homesickness? I’ve been taking people there on my flamenco & tapas tours for almost 15 years, but of course not since last summer when I started needing crutches to walk. I guess it was a combination of missing both the place and my old life. Anyhow, Carlos was super helpful and I came away with tons of notes, plus he sent me extra info by email.

By then it was lunchtime and, as I hadn’t updated Catalina La Barra in over a year, we headed over there. Even managed to find stuff on the menu I hadn’t tried! And then it was time to hobble home. Got back around 4 pm, took a shower and just felt… so happy. I don’t know, it doesn’t sound like anything special but it really was. Meeting and chatting with different people, feeling purposeful, a nice meal. A good day. 

la saeta

15 Tuesday Jul 2025

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

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Believe it or not I actually went out ON A SATURDAY NIGHT last weekend. Got a whatsapp message from my lovely friend Jeanine during the afternoon to say I should stop by her newest venture, Taberna La Saeta. I’ve been friends with Jeanine since we first met back in 2009. For many years she was a driving force behind La Azotea (check her out personally delivering lockdown takeaway – so much heart)  before leaving to explore other adventures. But now she has come back to hospitality (where she belongs) with a new summer pop-up bar at La Saeta.

Taberna La Saeta is a classic “de toda la vida” tapas bar and is in a great location (ie, not far from my house!) and if things work out the pop-up may end up a permanent thing. I hope so! We stopped in for a few tapitas and it was great. Very cosy, warm vibe, great food and also very good wine.

Wishing Jeanine and her partner (and chef) Juan all success and happiness and I hope to soon put La Saeta page up on Sevilla Tapas very soon. If you’re in Sevilla go and visit. Open every evening from 8 pm.