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Tag Archives: tapas

fish plates!

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by azahar in restaurants, sevilla, tapas bars

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bars, restaurants, sevilla, tapas

fish plates

After Monday’s GP visit we decided to stop for a quick Beer O’clock at Los Claveles, a very popular traditional bar that just happened to be half-way between the health centre and the bus stop home. After scoring a table in front of the large open windows we decided to stay for lunch, since it was actually lunchtime by then and I hadn’t updated their review on Sevilla Tapas since 2015 (!).

Anyhow, the tables were all set up with these pretty fish plates and when I asked our waiter where they came from he said he had bought them at a little shop in Marbella. Dang. But later on, after paying I went up to the bar and cheekily asked if I could buy a couple of the plates… then was totally surprised when the owner told his son “just give them to her!”. Score! I mean I was happy to pay for them, but it was a lovely gesture on their part.

This reminded me of many bar owners I know who “lose” their glasses, plates, cutlery on a daily basis because of assholes who want a “souvenir”. One bar I know lost two dozen monogrammed sherry glasses on one night when a bunch of drunken tourists decided to take them home and got away before the staff noticed. I also know a michelin starred place that had to change their fabulous cutlery because clients were making off with sets of them. Wtf guys… JUST ASK. Often the bar is happy to let you have the item(s) at cost price, and sometimes, yes, as a free souvenir. But just taking them… well, that’s stealing isn’t it. Show a bit of respect.

filming session

13 Thursday Jun 2024

Posted by azahar in food & drink, friends, gastronomy, sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, television

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sevilla, tapas, tapas bars, television, travel

filming

I was asked a while ago to help a television production company with an upcoming travel and gastronomy feature in Sevilla and I was happy to do so even though they later mentioned that they also wanted me to be in the programme too (!!!). And well… eep. I had set them up with the perfect bar and chefs for filming the cooking sessions, but later they also wanted to film a “tapeo”. Again, I organised this with two of my favourite bars and got their permission and when Jaime, one of the chefs, said he’d also be going along on the tapeo I thought “great! I’m off the hook!”. Except no. They still wanted me to come along and join the small group going out.

And well, it was fun and I was happy to help my friends get some nice exposure but I seriously hope any shots with me in it end up on the cutting room floor. Also, I didn’t make it to our final bar because everything was running late, my knee was killing me, and I had a lunchtime tapas tour in Triana the next day. So I bailed and hoped they would get some good stuff at the last place. Will let you know when it comes out, sometime early 2025 is the plan. Until then I can’t say much more about it.

friday night fun

17 Friday May 2024

Posted by azahar in sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

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sevilla, tapas, tapas bars

friday fun

I was just mentioning how I am almost never go out at night anymore and, when I do, it’s usually for a tapas tour. But today ran away with me and by the evening I was feeling restless and suddenly HAD to go out. But where? Then I remembered I’d had an instagram message from a local craft beer company who asked if I would please try their azahar-infused pale ale and, as I knew they had it at Casa Moreno, I thought why the heck not. Also I LOVE this bar so much. You may remember Emilio who is locally famous for his charming hand-written bills (he also made a special one for my 30th Sevilla anniversary). So we tried the beer (actually quite nice) had a couple of tapitas and, when we were back in the street Peter suggested stopping in at Bodeguita Romero around the corner.

My first response was that we’d never get in but when we arrived two people sitting at the bar in my favourite spot (in front of the open doors) suddenly paid up and left. Done! Then this happened. I was on my way to the loo and passed three ladies (all about my age I think) at the far end of the bar who I realised had also just been at Casa Moreno. And they recognised me too! So we got to chatting and they were a bit surprised at my local knowledge of tapas bars so I had to fess up about being Queen of Tapas and even gave them my card so they could have a look at my website. It was fun. Then of course they made mention of my ACCENT (what? after 30 years you sound like this? etc etc) but lately I’ve decided to stop feeling embarrassed when people make fun of my accent and so I informed them that it is actually quite cute, in fact it’s ADORABLE (which made them laugh). Honestly from now on I am OWNING my fucking accent. So there.

Anyhow… on their way out they passed by and said “guess where we’re going now!”. I said Casa Morales because these are the three best trad bars in the ‘hood, but no. So they said “ok, here’s a hint, we’re going for tortillitas de camarones” and I said BARBIANA! Well. They almost fell over. So not only do I have an adorable accent but I also KNOW ALL THE BARS. Anyhow, it was so fun, going to both bars, having a snack and a drink at each, just getting out. Honestly I need to do this more often.

 

augurio

07 Tuesday May 2024

Posted by azahar in friends, gastronomy, restaurants, sevilla, tapas

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augurio, restaurant, sevilla, tapas

augurio (1)Lorena & Carmen

Last week I heard about this brand new restaurant that had just opened in my ‘hood so I asked my friend Reyes (tapas bar royalty and owner of Casa Morales) if she wanted to try it out with me. And well of course she did! This place is run by a young couple, Lorena (chef) and Carmen (front of house) who spent two summers running a beach restaurant in Punta Umbría before moving to Sevilla. This new location has seating for just 24, it’s cosy and minimalist, and omg the food is amazing.

augurio (2)Lorena, Carmen, Iván, Reyes & Jesús

While Reyes and I were eating my pal (and fellow Sevilla Academia member) Chencho showed up as he was also about to write something about Augurio for his long-running food blog. After he left Iván (chef and owner of Michelin-recommended Ivantxu) came in with a friend to eat, and later Jesús (co-owner of La Cayetana around the corner) stopped in for a coffee after his lunch service finished. And well, I mean… I had to take a photo. It was just so lovely to see see friends, colleagues and neighbours supporting each other and once again I was reminded how lucky I am to be a part of this fabulous, creative (and delicious!) local community.

martha 2024

23 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by azahar in friends, sevilla, tapas bars

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friends, sevilla, tapas

marta 2024

She’s baaaack… this week Martha is in town with husband Joe and their friends and they invited Peter and I to join them for lunch. Martha and I first met back in 2014 (ten years ago!) when she came on one of my Sevilla Tapas Tours as a solo traveller and she has been back multiple times since then, sometimes on her own, other times with Joe or en famille with their sons. She’s also had a couple of holiday meals at my house. And it’s always great to meet up again. We had a fabulous lunch at Salmedina and spent a great afternoon together. Come back soon! 💙

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