This weekend Sevilla’s first food event of the year takes place in the Patio de la Diputación, Avda. Menéndez y Pelayo. Typical food and wines from the all six counties within the province will be on display and available to sample, and chefs from each district will be preparing local dishes.
Sabores de la Provincia de Sevilla
Patio de la Diputación
January 2nd – 4th
Friday: 15:00-18:00 | 20:00-23:00
Saturday: 12:00-18:00 | 20:00-23:00
Sunday: 12:00-18:00
Free Admission
Well, it is getting towards Christmas, so what could be more natural than a pairing (maridaje) of those two Christmas essentials, chocolate and after dinner drinks? This was the inspiration for last week’s tasting event put on by sommelier Silvia Flores at Gourmet Experience Duque.
The chocolates were supplied by Belgian luxury chocolatiers Neuhaus, who have been making chocolate since 1857, when founder Jean Neuhaus arrived in Brussels from his native Switzerland and opened an apothecary’s shop in the Galeries Royales in Brussels. Initially the chocolate was used to mask the taste of the medicinal products, but gradually the confectionary business took over, and in 1912 grandson Jean II invented the Belgian praline (or praline bon-bon), a hard chocolate shell with a nut and cream filling.
Apostoles/Feuilletine, Matusalem/Sappho, Nomad/Divine, Lepanto/Gallerie, Noe PX/Jean
Drinks were supplied by renowned Jerez bodega González Byass. These included: Aposteles, an aged Palo Cortado drawn from a solera created in 1862, two sweet sherries, Matusalem Cream and Noe PX, and two spirits. Lepanto is the company’s flagship brandy, made from Palomino grapes and matured for 15 years in Fino casks, while Nomad is a blended Scotch whisky that is finished in Jerez in PX casks.
These were paired with selected Neuhaus chocolates ranging from hazelnut and almond milk chocolate pralines (Feuilletine and Sappho) to caramel fillings in light and dark chocolate (Divine and Galerie) and finishing with an intense dark chocolate ganache (Jean – 64% Peruvian cocoa). The tasting was led by Neuhaus representative Anabel Leirman and Juanma Terceño from Gonzalez Byass, with poetic interludes provided by G-B’s master wineblender Antonio Flores. A sweet and sensual tasting experience.
Our hosts: Silvia Flores (Gourmet Experience sommelier), Anabel Leirman (Neuhaus), Antonio Flores (González Byass master wine blender), Juanma Terceño (González Byass sommelier).
Whenever I wander down Calle Acetres on my way home I remember the time I had to find an old glass shop when years ago one of my windowpanes broke and my landlord wouldn’t replace it. Well today I passed by the old shop only to discover it was no longer there and the delightful high ceilinged space had been recently taken over by a colourful and chaotic emporium called El Mercadillo Inglés (so-called because a lot of its stock comes from the UK). I can’t even begin to list the variety of things you can find here, both first and second hand, but I think it’s safe to say there something for everybody.
I had a nice chat with co-owner Marta Nuñez, a Sevillana who used to live in England and who now runs the shop along with partners Patricia Toscano and Santiago Toscano. They also have a section offering fabrics from their other local business Entretelas. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift this looks like a good bet.
El Mercadillo Inglés
Acetres 8
Sevilla
co-owners Antonio M. Lebrero and Andres J. Guerrero
La Abacería del Sur, a little gourmet food shop tucked away in a quiet street just outside the main shopping district, has just celebrated its first anniversary. Founders Andres J. Guerrero and Antonio M. Lebrero were getting into the Christmas spirit today by giving a little cheese sampling outside the shop – and very nice cheeses they were too. As well an impressive range of exclusive cheeses you can find good selections of fine wines, canned fish, olive oils and, more surprisingly, a selection of English biscuits and preserves, including marmalades, from the Mrs Bridges range (named for the Upstairs, Downstairs housekeeper).
It’s a charming and well-maintained spot, a sign of the owners’ pride in their dream. Treat yourself by stopping by for a bit of fine food shopping. Ideal for unique and delicious Christmas hampers too.
La Abaceria del Sur
Calle Lagar 11
Tel: 609 049 022
Today I was at the press conference announcing this year’s Sevilla Tapas Week, which will take place 6-16th November.
More than 160 bars and restaurants are participating (40 more than last year) and there will be three tapas categories: traditional, gourmet and “sabores de provincia” (not quite sure what that last one means). People can try the special tapas on offer and then vote on line for their favourites using the SWT free app.
press conference at El Rinconcillo, Sevilla’s oldest tapas bar
On Thursday and Friday (November 6-7th) you can check out the first Gastronomy & Networking event, being held at the Convento de San Agustín. Also make sure to download and follow the Sevilla Gastronomy Heritage Tapas Guide free app, which is a near and dear project that I helped create.
Sevilla Tapas Week
6 – 16th November