Tag Archives: tapas tours

Pam & Gibert

29 Friday Aug 2025

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

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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.

wanker

01 Tuesday Oct 2024

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wanker

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a guy who was building up a tour company here and had decided to call it Azahar Tours… then he saw I was already using this name and had been, well forever, and he asked if it would bother me if he also used it, even though his tours weren’t food related. I told him that I really appreciated him asking and that, yes, the azahar brand has been associated with me since 2005 and so to avoid any confusion it might be better if he chose another name that was all his own. And he did. Respect.

But not this wanker. The Sevilla Tapas brand has also been recognised as mine since 2009 (2007 if you count when the food blog started) and basically, Sevilla Tapas Tours (as generic as it may sound) has been my food tour name, again, since forever, because… I got there first. But what I didn’t do was pay for every possible website domain that might sound like me. In fact, since I barely knew what I was doing back in 2007 my main domain is a bit messy. But whatever. People still find me because I’ve been online for almost 20 years and I have a respected reputation. One that I think I have earned.

Then this wanker comes along, some guy here who started doing food tours, and in fact mostly seems to be doing my tours (as so many of the copycat food tour companies do these days) but then touts himself to be THE authentic food tour experience in Sevilla. Whatever. It only began to irk when he started calling himself Seville Tapas Tour all over social media, cos like, that’s me. Then today I saw this sponsored ad on instagram calling himself the REAL Seville Tapas Tour… wtf.

Don’t get me wrong. This guy makes no difference to me in terms of work. I always have more tour requests than I can handle (hence, my angels). What irks is that he knows he is using my well-known brand name. I guess because he is hoping people will confuse him with me? That this might drive some business his way? How pathetic is that? Because he does know who I am. We see each other in the street (he ignores me) and I mean come on. I just don’t get it. And I am certainly not flattered.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness. – Oscar Wilde

my angels

23 Monday Sep 2024

Posted by in food & drink, friends, health, sevilla, tapas tours

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my angels

A massive shout out to my angels… friends Fiona, Sharon and Peter who have stepped up to help out lately. It started off this past summer when I realised (once again) that I was getting way too many tour requests than I could handle. This always happens, to be honest. And often Peter helps out, because he loves doing the tours and it’s some extra work for him. But it wasn’t enough. So I talked to Fiona and Sharon to see if they were looking for some extra freelance work. I’ve known Fiona forever and met Sharon at an olive oil event last year and so I knew that we shared the same philosophy when it came to food tours, and that I could trust them with passing on my clients to them.

BUT THEN… when it became clear I wouldn’t be able to do the tours I’d already booked for Sept/Oct – and Peter was already doing as many as possible – these two lovely ladies stepped up and have totally helped me out. I mean, I know it’s not my fault that I CAN’T WALK, but it was also killing me that I would have to cancel these tours. And now, thanks to the three of them, nothing has had to be cancelled and I am so grateful for that. Now I can relax about this at least, knowing my clients are in excellent hands. Thanks so much guys!

brunch power meeting!

15 Wednesday May 2024

Posted by in sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, tapas tours

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brunch meeting

Well okay, not so much a “power” thing really. And yeah it wasn’t even real brunch (which I hate). But it was a meeting! With me and three friends who share a similar philosophy when it comes to food & wine tours, which sadly most others here in the biz don’t share. For example, we only want to do proper small groups (2-6 people, not 10-12) and leave options open for special requests. Yes, this means we will never be rich, but I knew that 15 years ago when I embarked on this whole crazy tapas tour ride. I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t like to be rich, but at what price, you know what I mean? And so this was a great meeting, connecting with these guys and setting up what I hope will be a nice network of like-minded friends who want to offer people a… fabulous gastronomy experience!

I have the platform and I get so many requests all the time. In fact I’ve been turning away clients like crazy lately and feel terrible about it, but I’m just one person and there’s only so much I can do.  Now suddenly I am four people! We’re all independent, so the other three pals are their own bosses, but it’s such a relief that I now have these wonderful people to recommend when I’m not available. This meeting really boosted my spirits this week. Thanks guys. x

brunch meeting 2