Tag Archives: friends

more birthday fun

26 Monday Jan 2026

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My Dublin pal Michele (you pronounce that Mi-ke-lay) was back in town this past weekend and we met up for a Beer O’clock that turned into a full-on afternoon full of deliciousness. Yet more birthday fun (it ain’t over till it’s over). First we went to Ultramarinos Casa Lucas because I was finishing up my next Bitesize Sevilla article and needed some photos, and after that Michele was happy to accompany me (and Peter) while I did further research, this time to a brand new wine bar that just happens to be directly across the street from my previous Casa Az. You remember, the one where I didn’t get any sleep for five years.

Anyhoodle, both stops were fabulous, and as always, it was great catching up with Michele again, who says he’ll be back in Sevilla a few more times this year as there are several concerts he wants to attend. Later on he also went to Augurio. Like me, he is totally in love with that place and not only visits every time he’s here but (also like me) he sends everyone he knows there when he hears they are visiting Sevilla. Hasta la próxima!

julie & steve are back!

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

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After seven long years these two lovelies are back in town. Briefly. They’ve been spending the month in Málaga but popped up to Sevilla for a quick visit. And what a time we had… a belated birthday lunch at Augurio. A perfect way to spend a cold, rainy January afternoon, with good friends, good food, and some rather spectacular wines…

Thanks so much for coming up for a visit and for treating me to a magnificent meal. Glad you got to meet Carmen too. We were a trio of mandonas but somehow Steven survived. Come back soon! xx

Carmen, Steven & Julie

jeanine

27 Thursday Nov 2025

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I’ve known Jeanine since she and her (now ex) husband Juan opened La Azotea back in 2009. And we’ve been friends ever since. She has been there for anniversaries, (both mine and hers) and even personally delivered my special treat Lockdown Lunch from Dan & Deb. Just to say, she’s always been there over the years, though we don’t often find a chance to meet up in person (usually we bump into each other in the street as she is whizzing by on her way somewhere and promise to do lunch “soon”). Well, it finally happened this week and it was great. First lunch at La Cayetana and then a penúltima at Gran Café España, all the while talking non-stop and catching up with ALL the gossip. Between the two of us we must know everyone in the restaurant biz here.

We also caught up on each other’s lives, what we’ve been up to, future plans, etc. It was such a treat to feel safe sharing my thoughts and feelings and, well, also to feel cared about. Doesn’t happen much these days. Anyhow, it was a great day and who knows when we’ll manage to meet up again but it’s a real comfort knowing Jeanine is out there. Abiding.

Nick & Jim

05 Wednesday Nov 2025

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

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Jim & Nick at Manolo Cateca

Mexico-based food writer Nick (Nicolas Gilman) and I first met ten years ago in London during a mad whirlwind gastronomic weekend hosted by Jeffrey Merrihue (formerly Foodie Hub now Xtreme Foodies) though we barely remember as there were so many people and so many places. Anyhow, we reconnected this year on Substack and this week he and his partner Jim are in town so we got together for a little sherry and a snack at Manolo Cateca. It was lovely meeting them both and I hope we can get together again before they leave.

fred & susan are back!

04 Tuesday Nov 2025

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I’ve known Fred & Susan for years now (first via Twitter), then we met up in person about a year and a half ago and had a great time together. And this week was no exception. Suddenly they were back in town and so of course we had to meet up. We started off with a glass of cava at Catalina El Bar before heading for a fabulous lunch at Amara. Then it was time for a penúltima. On the way to my first choice (El Cairo) I decided to pop into Augurio because Fred & Susan were planning on eating there during their stay and I thought it would be nice to make the booking in person and introduce them to the girls. 

Imagine my surprise when the last two tables having lunch there were also friends of mine! In fact, the last time I was at Augurio (for an amazing sherry & dinner event) Elba and Bill were also there and they had joked when they saw each other that the only one missing was me. So we ended up having our penúltima there and it was a lovely finish to a very enjoyable afternoon.

Elba (seated) with Fred, Susan, friend of Bill and Bill

Fred & Bill