Tag Archives: tapas bars

updating…

04 Saturday Feb 2017

Posted by in sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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updatesDiego, Antonio, Pepe (2012)
Pepe, Julio (Diego’s son), Antonio (2017)

So as most of you know, I’ve been running this food website for about ten years now, called Sevilla Tapas… 😉

But what you may not know is that I don’t actually make a bean off that site. It started off as a labour of love, and has remained so. Also, I don’t get offered free meals (as many people suppose), which means I actually pay for every tapa and every glass of wine you see posted. And all of that is fine because I think it is what sets me apart, and it also means that Sevilla Tapas has become my online portfolio, showing that I am far more than “just another tapas tour guide”. It also means that I am free to post my own opinions.

And very often it enriches my life in other ways. Like when I went back to El Cairo five years after my first visit (hey, there are more than 3,000 tapas bars here – I do my best!). As usual I got to talking to the guys behind the bar, who looked familiar. So I got out my iPhone and looked up my previous entry for El Cairo and the guys loved it. Especially Julio who saw his father Diego in my 2012 pic. So he very happily posed with the same two barmen as before, Pepe and Antonio, and that encounter totally made my day. Love my job.

bermejaleando

17 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in food & drink, gastronomy, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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bermejaleandoLos Bermejales is a suburb about a half-hour’s bus ride from the centre. It’s not a place I go to often and, when I do, it’s usually to visit my friend Pilar (who lives there). But yesterday I decided to go and check out the final day of the first Tapeando por Los Bermejales, a week-long event in which 18 local bars created a special tapa and offered it at a special price (3€ for a tapa & drink).

Peter and I had chosen a few bars from the list, based on the tapa on offer, and were disappointed when we arrived at the first bar on the list and it was closed. Another of the bars wasn’t even there anymore, just a sign saying they had moved, though it didn’t say where. Two other bars had run out of the special tapa, and another two were so grubby we didn’t bother staying. So out of the nine bars we went to, we only ended up trying three tapas. Which were okay, but nothing “special”. In fact, in most cases the regular food looked more appealing. I think if you live in Los Bermejales it’s a fun initiative, with people going to the various bars during the week (though probably best not to go on a busy Sunday afternoon). Let’s see how they do next year.

tapas research

25 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in food & drink, sevilla, tapas, tapas tours, wine, work

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tapas researchSince 2007, doing tapas research has taken me to literally hundreds of different bars and restaurants, both in Sevilla and elsewhere in Andalucía. And yeah “tough job” and all that, but while (mostly) enjoyable, it’s still work. It can also get expensive since I have rarely accepted a “freebie”, and certainly have never done so in exchange for a positive review. And aside from the financial expense, there is also lots of time spent after the bar visits, editing photos and writing reviews. None of this makes me a penny, but it does serve as my “online portfolio” showing that I do actually know a thing or two about gastronomy in Andalucía, so indirectly that helps with people choosing my tapas tours over more commercially formulaic ones. Mostly though, I just love doing this and sharing my knowledge and experiences. Plus there are still surprises for me, like walking into this century old bar shown above, meeting the owner and talking about Sevilla like old friends. Love my job. 🙂

las teresas

21 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by in andalucia, food & drink, we love tapas, wine, work

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las teresas

It was a night off from tapas tours, so of course I ended up hanging out in bars. Actually, it was mixing pleasure with business as I had to meet with a couple of bar owners, and then wanted to check out a newly opened place. Meanwhile I managed to get this cool shot at Las Teresas. I had never really noticed that hand-painted plate on the wall and to get closer to it I had to go behind the bar. Then Rafa bought us a round on the house and we chatted for another half hour or so. I love this bar, I love the people who run it, the guys who work there, and I’ve been going there for over 20 years. Just like with most of the bars I’ve ended up working with. It’s an amazing job when you don’t really notice when you’re working or when you’re just there socialising. Love my job.