azahar | Azahar Sevilla

Panepanna Rice Workshop

May 31, 2010 azahar4 Comments

Anna Mayer (centre) hosts a variety of cooking classes at her home in Sevilla. The one I attended yesterday was all about rice and featured three dishes: supplì, pilaf and risotto. Her classes are totally “hands on”, very informative and relaxed. Attendees not only get to sample their dishes at the lunch that follows the class, but there is also enough left over for them to take home in plastic containers provided by Anna. Below you can see how much fun everyone had at yesterday’s workshop (click to enlarge)…

Aside from themed classes featuring a particular food item, meal course or cuisine, Anna also gives Spanish cooking classes to visitors and expats … you can choose whether you would like your class in English, Spanish or Italian. You can find more information about Anna’s classes on her Lions and Pancakes blog and also follow her on Twitter as Panepanna.

La Azotea Cata

May 28, 2010 azaharLeave a comment

Great time last night at the first La Azotea Vinos & Más cata (wine tasting). There were about 15 of us attending and Luís Valentín from Bodegas Valenciso took us through five different riojas, step by step, which was very interesting. I liked that the atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. No wine snobbery going on. In fact, Luís was very down-to-earth about wine appreciation and how wine tastings should go. I not only enjoyed myself a lot, but I learned a few things and got to taste some very nice wines.

Above you can see our group and the wines we tasted, and also our very camera-shy (ha!) hostess Jeanine showing off her very best California smile. Really, she was terrific at making everyone feel welcome and comfortable, and it was also a very nice touch when her husband Juan popped over from the restaurant across the street to refresh our water jugs. I really like what they are doing with the whole shop/restaurant thing.

The next cata will be on July 1st with Bodega Sumarroca and their fabulous whites & cavas. Starts at 8.30.

Jesús del Gran Poder, 44
Tel. 955 11 67 48

La Azotea Vinos & Más

May 27, 2010 azahar5 Comments

Just across the street from La Azotea restaurant is the newly opened Azotea gourmet food and wine shop. Here you can find a wide selection of wines, with an emphasis on Andalucian and Californian wines, which can also be purchased for consumption in the restauraunt (no corkage fee). Food includes cheese, delicatessen, olive oils, vinegars, sauces and other specialities from around the world. Fresh bread from the restaurant is also available, including special fruit breads such as strawberry and mango.

There are monthly catas (wine tastings) that are free of charge and feature a selection of wines available in the shop. And coming soon: specially hosted wine tasting events – call to get put on the mailing list.

Opening hours are the same as the restaurant so that diners can easily purchase the some of the foods and wines they have enjoyed during their meals. And as always, Jeanine & Juan – and their excellent staff – are on hand to provide you with information and advice about their products.