02 Thursday Mar 2017
At least that was the plan. Today is Peter’s birthday and this is my birthday present to him. It was supposed to be this evening, but then the date got changed to tomorrow. Probably just as well as the birthday boy is still a bit run down and also still on antibiotics (which finish today). So we’re going to pretend that tomorrow is March 2nd instead!
27 Monday Feb 2017
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It’s going to be a very sherry month while I prepare for the Big Event in London. And what better way to start my extra practice than with my friend Silvia, a sommelier, fellow sherry educator, and daughter of a master sherry blender? What’s going on here is simply helping me focus on what I am able to identify and giving that structure.
Aside from doing something similar to this on a daily basis (either at bars or at home) I will also be going to as many tastings as possible. That includes three sherry tastings (two in Sevilla, one in Jerez) over the weekend being given by different bodegas , and a getaway to Sanlúcar mid-month to visit bodegas there. At the moment it seems a bit daunting, but now with “extra added structure” thanks to Silvia, I can take things step by step.
18 Saturday Feb 2017
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So guess who has been invited to be a judge at a major sherry event in London? I’ll give you a hint. It’s the same person who is now a complete nervous wreck (but in a good way?). I’ve done judging events before, but this is BIG TIME. Will be spending the entire of March boning up on, well, everything. Eek!
30 Monday Jan 2017
Taberna La Manzanilla is a special place I always visit when I’m in Cádiz. And this last trip I had an extra reason to do so after having tasted their amontillado fino at Alabaster in Madrid, when co-owner Fran gave us a taste of it from his “secret stash”. So it was fun to tell (Manzanilla owner) Pepe this story and show him the photo. Oh, and the amontillado fino is fabulous. 
20 Friday Jan 2017
Posted in food & drink, friends, gastronomy, getaways
Graeme, Peter & Andrew
Where would I be without Twitter? After finally meeting Andrew @undertheflor on our first night in Madrid, we also got to see Graeme @graeme_SoW, who I first met during a social web conference here in Sevilla back in 2010. Andrew had arranged a special lunch at one of his favourite spots, Territorio ERA, in the newly renovated Barceló Market. And then one of my favourite things happened… chef and co-owner David just brought us food – delicious dishes, all paired with fabulous sherries. Didn’t have to think about or decide anything. It was wonderful. Great company too.
casa azahar 