26 Wednesday Nov 2025
Posted in restaurants, sevilla, spain
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Michelin awards for Spain were presented Tuesday evening in Málaga. Happy to see my friends at Cañabota and Abantal maintain their stars and for Juan Carlos Ochanda receive his first star. Well done Sevilla!
25 Tuesday Nov 2025
Posted in olive oil, restaurants, sevilla
Yesterday I had the privilege of being invited to the presentation of DOP Estepa’s freshly harvested 2025 extra virgin olive oil with a tasting menu created by chef Ezequiel Montilla from Restaurante Alma in Puente Genil, Córdoba. It took place at the top of the Setas in one of their bright and airy showrooms.
We tasted 3 different EVOOs, which had been used to make our starter, main course and dessert, and we were encouraged to also add a little more to our dishes. I thought it was a very interesting way of presenting olive oil, similar to a wine & food pairing, as it gave us a clear way of relating to the different oils. Afterwards we were given a bottle of their new unfiltered en rama oil, which I am keen to try because their coupage “Estepa Virgen” is my every-day extra virgin olive oil at home. A very educational and delicious afternoon.
✨ Mazamorra de almendra, gamba blanca de vuelva y espárrago
🫒 Hojiblanca
🍷 Javier Sanz Sauvignon Blanc 2021 @bodegajaviersanzviticultor
✨ Secreto de bellota, setas y patatas fritas en AOVE
🫒 “Estepa Virgen” coupage
🍷 Primus Essence 2023 @bodega_elpujio
✨ Olive oil carrot cake with cinnamon and PX foam
🫒 Arbequina
🍷 Don PX 2021 @toroalbala
20 Thursday Nov 2025
Posted in friends, restaurants, sevilla
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Not many people could get me out of my comfy chair (and out of my pyjamas) for an impromptu meet up on a chilly November evening, but an unexpected message from Jorge Guitian did the trick. He was stuck in town overnight when, returning from a job in Cádiz his flight home was cancelled, so of course I had to take him to Augurio. Just for a light snack and a quick catch up, and then he was off again. Sorry for the wonky photo Jorge, caught you off guard (he’s actually quite a handsome devil, folks).
Missing are pics of the anchovy with blue cheese butter and the crispy corn tortilla with butterfish ceviche, but here we have the carrillada and manitas ravioli in foie sauce, a beef rib taco with pickled veg and guacamole, and papaya marinated in oloroso, with sage and miso, toasted sponge cake and hazelnut ice cream. It really was a lovely surprise. Jorge is a dear friend and I don’t get to see him often enough. Hasta la próxima!
19 Wednesday Nov 2025
Posted in bitesize sevilla, friends, gastronomy, restaurants, sevilla, spain, substack
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A while back I had the idea of writing a post on Bitesize Sevilla about Los Chicos de Petit… all the boys who started off working at Petit Comité and then moved on to open some of the most dynamic and delicious restaurants in the city. Brothers Emilio and Álvaro are still with Petit and so we all met up there for an evening of food, wine and memories. I think it’s going to be a great story. Watch this space!
12 Wednesday Nov 2025
Posted in retail therapy, seasons, shoes, shopping
Trying out these Fluchos, a Spanish brand that seem to be better quality (and better priced) than Camper. I realised that the last time I bought shoes was back in 2021 (actually bought in 2019 but I didn’t wear them for two years). Last winter I actually got by on these refurbished favourites (from 2017) but sadly the time has come to retire them. And yes, okay, I did buy these ones a couple of years ago but turned out they were just too ugly after all so I returned them.
My point is… I needed new shoes and I am hoping these ones will work out. It’s always so stressful buying shoes because of my triple EEE wide “duck feet” (narrow heels), requiring a usually quite painful breaking in period, and I never know what’s going to break first, the shoes or me, until it happens. So I am wearing these guys around the house for awhile before trying them outside. Fingers crossed.
casa azahar 