I’m heading out soon for my last Sevilla Tapas Tour of 2013. It’s really been a great year and I continue to love this work. I think because I am sticking to what I like best about it and not trying to make it into something it’s not. I mean, I don’t even think of myself as a “tour guide”, more of a “culinary host” taking people to all my favourite places. And it keep evolving, which I also like.

It’ll be interesting to see how 2014 goes. There are a lot more people doing tapas tours in Sevilla now and some seem to be taking the whole “competition” thing quite seriously. One person who recently started using “Sevilla Tapas Tours” on Twitter (the name I’m been known by for years) went so far as to register that name for their website. Which is why I’m glad that I am doing this in my own way. People may copy my name, they might swipe my ideas and – as has already happened – totally rip off my price list… but they can’t copy me, my experience, or my passion for what I do.

Also, there is so much more to Sevilla Tapas than just food tours. I’ve spent almost seven years building up my website that now has close to 200 bar and restaurant listings in Sevilla, as well as my website for tapas in Andalucía (haven’t counted how many bars are listed there). I’ve worked with the Sevilla Tourist Board on a couple of projects and am suddenly being asked to attend food and wine events as an expert in my field. Which is thrilling, really. And I have more things planned for the new year. So stay tuned!

But now I really must dash! Picking up my guests in half an hour…