This week Deb and Claire were back in town and I was lucky enough to meet up with them twice! Last time Deb came in October and it was a bit too early for her to pick up her L’Armanaque de Sevilla for this 2026 so I managed to get them both a fridge magnet of the calendar cover from Alfredo (better than nuthin’).
We had two lovely lunches together, first at La Cochera del Abuelo and then Augurio. It was also Birthday Week for Claire so we toasted her birthday as well as Deb’s (almost) early retirement and, of course, Dan Jamón. Several times. It’s been great having them back again.
I can’t remember the last time I saw Michelle and Chris (they can’t remember either) but we reckon it was during a visit to Málaga (they live in Estepona) when we had cocktails on a rooftop bar and were entertained by a bullfighter strutting around naked in his hotel room, curtains wide open (he knew what he was doing). Last night we were also entertained by bullfighters, but fully dressed this time, when we stopped for a nightcap at the Hotel Colón on the way home.
But before that we had met up at Cafetería Donald and spent the evening catching up and just enjoying each others company, along with some lovely tapas and wine. Good times.
I’ve known Reggie (aka @winecasual) for YEARS. First of all virtually on Twitter and then last year at the Copa de Jerez this charming young man came up to me and said “are you Sevilla Tapas?”. At some point I asked if he’d also be going to the next Vinoble and… he’d never heard of it! So now I can honestly say that I have changed someone’s life.
Reggie had a great time at Vinoble and, being young and mobile, went to both the morning and evening sessions and also managed to attend a couple of tastings. We also had a memorable lunch together after he recommended a new place he’d tried called La Gloria Taberna, which is now on my top five list of favourite restaurants in the city. Then, on his way to another wine event in Galicia, he stopped over in Sevilla and we met up again for a glass (or three, maybe four?) of cava/corpinnat at a little bar near me.
Such a lovely guy and I’m so happy to have him as a friend now. Although wine is his “hobby” (or at least, not his main job) he also writes for Wine Enthusiast and travels extensively, mostly on sponsored trips to further his wine knowledge (which is already impressive, even intimidating). He was truly a bright spot in these past few days and I hope he’ll be back soon.
Cathy is back in town this week and today we met up for a quick catch up. Last time (actually also the first time) I saw her was back in 2019. We started off at Manolo Cateca for a cheeky sherry before heading over to La Barra de Cañabota, which Cathy hadn’t been to for. A lovely time, delicious bites and lots of chat. See you soon, Cathy!
Kalé has been back in Sevilla this month (she was last here in 2019). This is her final week and I’m going to miss her. Kalé was one of the first lodgers I had in my second Casa Azahar, close to 25 years ago (!!!). Hard to believe we’ve known each other so long, and that she has met ALL of my cats, well other than Morcilla, but will try to remedy that before she leaves. Meanwhile, Kalé has been helping me out with Tapas Research and it looks like we will be able to squeeze in one more lunch this weekend.
casa azahar 