Tag Archives: friends

deb’s in town

09 Thursday Oct 2025

Posted by in friends, sevilla

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

Deb’s back again for about ten days, between Sevilla and Cádiz, with friends Clare and Nina, whom I know from previous trips, and we made plans to meet for lunch. I asked if they were willing to do some Tapas Research with me and visit somewhere new that I hadn’t been to yet and of course it was Game On. Well, I say new… it just opened last week and it’s the second restaurant of Javi Muñoz (aka The Sherry Chef), whom I’ve known for years. His La Carboná is excellent, so I had high hopes for Amarío and it did not disappoint.

As usual Debs brought me some treats from home, including mince pies (I can freeze them!), a Decanter magazine, and this lovely red post box biscuit tin (full of lovely biscuits) to put up on the Dan Jamón London Christmas Shelf, a  tradition that began with what would be Dan’s last visit here, though of course we didn’t know it at the time.

It was great seeing the girls again and, as usual, we ended up going for a penúlitima afterwards and, as always, it carried on so long that it became clear I was being held hostage (I couldn’t leave without them because I couldn’t carry the bag of treats on my own and they showed no signs of wanting to go anywhere). So I called Peter to ask if he would come and rescue me, which he did, though they made him stay and have a beer. So it was close to 9.00 pm by the time I finally got home from “lunch”, but it’s fun having girlfriends for a day! I miss them already.

euen & sue

07 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in friends, gastronomy, restaurants, sevilla

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

They’re baaaack. Back in November 2021 Euen & Sue booked a  Sherry & Tapas Tour (a tour! not a tasting, back in the days when I could still walk) and have been back to visit a few times since then. But in January Euen was planning something special for a big group of his golf buddies (16 in total) and basically wanted to show off his knowledge of great places to eat and drink here, so he got in touch with me to plan a food itinerary. And well, every place I chose for them was a hit, with a couple of them totally new to Euen.

Anyhow, the are back for about a week or so and invited me out to this fabulous lunch at Ivantxú. So nice to see them again and catch up. I think they will also be coming to a special sherry event with me this week, more on that later.

emilio

26 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in friends, sevilla, tapas bars

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

I’ve known Emilio Vara Dorado forever… well at least as long as I’ve known the fabulous Casa Moreno (approx 2008 when I finally got up the nerve to walk into what looked like an almost exclusive “neighbours only” spot and, even though I was actually a neighbour, I still felt a bit intimidated). I needn’t have worried. I was immediately made to feel welcome and the Morenos and Emilio have been like family ever since.

Anyhow, it’s Emilio’s birthday today and so, as I had to go to my bank nearby, I decided to hobble over and wish him a happy birthday in person. You may remember him from my previous posts about his lovely personalised “napkin art” (ie handwritten bills) I’ve posted here, and also that time he made a special one for my 30th Sevilla Anniversary.

Well it turns out that 2 pm on a Friday afternoon is not the best time to try and get into Casa Moreno, especially not these days since it’s become an instagram phenomenon (queues of tourists are lined up every opening time). But working my “crutch magic” suddenly everyone was letting me pass to get inside. When Emilio saw me he stopped everything and came over to hold my hands and I wished him the happiest of birthdays. Then we had a little argument about who is the more charming person, me or him (obviously HE is, but he insists I am) and then I had to go. Way too crowded.

With more than 35 years behind the bar Emilio IS Casa Moreno, now into its third generation of the Moreno family. And I don’t know… I just love that I know him. And the Morenos. And all of it.

a day in the life…

17 Wednesday Sep 2025

Posted by in casa azahar, friends, home, sevilla

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Me: I can’t find the new envelopes.
Peter: I didn’t touch them.
Me: They were in your shopping bag.
P: I don’t remember seeing them.
Me: Except you TOOK THEM OUT OF YOUR SHOPPING BAG.
P: Then what did you do with them?
Me: I didn’t do anything, you must have put them somewhere.
P: I don’t remember putting them anywhere.
Two hours later…
Me: I FOUND THE ENVELOPES.
P:
Me: They were in my office drawer. I had already put the cards inside.
P:
Me: Well you still took them out of your bag and put them in the office.

Long long years of two (most of the time) friends living together. And now mostly bumbling along with bad memories, various dodgy joints and other ailments, and almost daily farcical spats. But it kinda works? Like we’re family by now so put up with each other… and even sometimes like each other 😉 To be honest a lot of 65-70+ peeps would probably do better in this set up than being “looked after” somewhere. At least for the moment what one of can’t do the other one can, and vice versa. But if Peter kicks the bucket before me, goddamn I’ll be annoyed! Who will take out the rubbish and drive me crazy a hundred times a day?? And be that one person I can rely on.

Pam & Gibert

29 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in food & drink, friends, sevilla, sherry, tapas bars, tapas tours

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Vaughn, Nora Frances, Pam & Gibert

It’s always so lovely when clients become friends. Pam & Gibert were first here in April 2024 and came out with me on both a Flamenco Tour and for a Sherry & Tapas Tasting. We’ve stayed in touch since then and so when I heard they would be stopping in Sevilla briefly at the end of August with another couple we had to do something. But what? I could have offered them a Triana Tour for something different but of course I CAN’T WALK. In fact, the only work available to me since last August has been the tastings because they take place in one bar and I can hobble there and back again at my own snails pace. So then I had a think and put together the “Off The Beaten Path ON CRUTCHES Tour”. And it was actually fabulous.

All the bars were about a five minute walk (ten minute hobble) apart and – most importantly – not far from my house. We started off early at Sevilla’s sherry temple Manolo Cateca in order to get The Table (there’s only one) and while Manolo doesn’t take bookings he agreed to hold the table for me if we got there right at 12.00 noon. Deal! After that a few posh seafood snacks at La Barra de Cañabota followed by the “main course” of traditional tapas at Taberna Zurbarán (who also don’t take bookings but did me a favour). And well, it turned out so well I am tempted to offer it as one of my regular tours, except other than Cañabota I would have to call in a favour each time at the other two places and I don’t want to take advantage. It would work with just two people as we could always squeeze in without having to book everywhere. Hmmm… maybe something to think about.

Anyhow, Pam & Gibert will be back AGAIN next March (“I’m like a bad penny, Shawn”) and I really can’t wait to see them again. Even if just to hear Pam’s wonderful southern accent again… I could listen to her all day.