Category: seville

Tapeo Extremo II

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So this is what I did yesterday! Met up with some Twitter pals and fellow bloggers for a Tapeo Extremo, a term coined by travel writing legend and hardcore tapeo phenomenon Annie Bennett. Taking part were Fiona (Scribbler in Seville), Kate (Tales of a Brit Abroad), Kate’s friend Nicki, and Kim (Becoming Sevillana). I’ve known Fiona for quite awhile now, and Kate and Nicki had been on a tapas tour with me last summer, but it was the first time meeting Kim. Everyone knew that this was going to be pretty darn demanding and they had a lot to live up to if they were going to reach “extremo” standards. And well, the girls did good.

MY challenge was that nobody in the group ate meat, and one only tolerated fish in small amounts, so it had to be a pescatarian/vegetarian affair. Was I daunted? Hell no. Though it has to be said that the tour focused more on fish and seafood until the fourth and final tapas stop. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

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Norberto León Rios – Serigrafías Exquísitas

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It was more than five years ago that I first happened upon Norberto León’s tiny studio while out for tapas with my flatmate Peter and my dear friend Craig. It was a truly magical experience to come across Norberto and his helpers working away on that hot July night in 2006 and – me being nosy – popped my head inside to ask what was going on.

Since that night I’ve become pals with Norberto and we may still become biz associates one day (if I ever get my darned online store up and running!). I love his work and have had my eye on a rather large Sevilla serigraph skyline of his that I’d love to have in my living room. Well, maybe one day.

But today was a public holiday (Todos los Santos or The Day of the Dead) and by 11am I was getting a bit stir-crazy. Gym was closed, shops weren’t open, and what the hell was I going to do all day other than sit in front of the computer? So I decided to go out for a walk and do some work-related stuff, taking photos of a bar that I hope will become my latest social media client, and also a few photos of an actual client. It was a gorgeous morning – the first of November, 25º and me still wearing sandals.

And that’s when I saw Norberto sitting outside the cathedral, working away on his craft, with several items around him for sale. So we had a chat, I took this photo, got a kiss and then he told me about this video a friend of his had made about his work. I don’t think you need to understand Spanish to “get it”.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd1-rF5nPqM”]

Website: norler.com
Estudio: c/ Alfarería 26
Triana, Sevilla
Tel. 676 024 081

Lab4

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I’ve been looking forward to the opening of Lab4 ever since Juan Carlos García (owner of Puracepa and Albarama) first told me about his latest project a month or so ago. What I wasn’t expecting was that it would be for “members only”, which at first put me off as I dislike anything that smacks of cliquiness. And when I was told there is a 50 euro a year membership fee I thought “well, that counts me out” until Carlos explained that you actually get the fee back by using the membership card to pay your bar bill. Then Carlos took me on a tour of the place and I knew I would love being a part of it.

Located upstairs from Puracepa, directly across from City Hall in the Plaza San Francisco, Lab4 is on four levels. There are two main cocktail lounges on the first and second floors, both super chic and minimalist with spectacular views across the square. The third floor will be used to give bartending classes and can also be booked for private functions. The terraza will be open year round, weather permitting, and will serve as a smoking section as well as just a general open area to enjoy your drinks outdoors. My favourite seat is in the glassed-in balcony on the first floor – a wonderful spot with comfy sofas to sit and watch the world go by.

There’s a good selection of cocktails and an extensive list of premium spirits and liqueurs. Wine, cava and champagne are also available, as well as select beers (nothing on tap). Prices are pretty much what you’d expect, similar to upmarket hotels bars. And the service is professional and friendly.

Members can bring guests with them, up to three Monday – Thursday and up to two Friday – Sunday. Lab4 opens from 4pm to 2am.

It will be a great place for me to take Gourmet Tapas Tour clients at the end of the evening, especially in winter when the rooftop bars are mostly closed.

And I do love that first floor window seat…

[click on images to enlarge]

Andalucía Sabor

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So this is what I’ll be doing over the next three days – attending the Andalucía Sabor Fine Food Exhibition – which kicks off this morning with a jamón slicing competition. Though in fact it began yesterday evening with an interesting and entertaining round-table discussion with three of Spain’s top chefs (Juan Mari Arzak, Carme Ruscalleda and Dani Garcia) about the Mediterranean diet and why eating locally and in season is so important.

Last year I had wangled an invitation to the Best New Chef competition so I guess I was still “on file” because of that, and so I was happy to receive an email a few weeks ago inviting me to attend this year’s Andalucía Sabor as Press or, more accurately, one of the bloggers that will be not only be allowed entrance (normal admission price is 75 euros) but also will have a blogger’s area with access to tables and plugs for laptops, etc. This would be an ideal moment to use the iPad I still don’t have. So I will just be armed with my iPhone as both laptops are too heavy to lug around all day, especially as I’m still having to wear the “faja” to hold my operation incision together.

And as if attending a three-day conference wasn’t enough I also have Sevilla Tapas Tours tonight and Thursday night, plus a presentation meeting with a prospective social media client tomorrow evening (another instance where an iPad would come in handy). Meanwhile I still have my daily work with my other clients to keep up with…

Speaking of which, best get that done while I down another cup of coffee, then I’ll have to hit the shower and get out of here. The conference centre is way the hell out near the airport, about half an hour on the bus, but at least there is a direct route there with the stop just five minutes from my house.  So gotta run – expect a full report once it’s all over!

Martes 13

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In the cultures of Spain and Greece, and in the countries of Latin America, Tuesday the 13th  is considered unlucky, and there are still many people who have a phobia about this day (trezidavomartiofobia), and who will not travel anywhere on this day because of the superstition. It is also common for planes to have no row 13, as it is assumed that passengers wouldn’t buy tickets. And many buildings “skip a floor” from 12 to 14 so they won’t have a 13th floor.

The negative associations of Tuesday, 13 have no scientific basis, and it should be clear that it is only a myth. Indeed, many people regard it rather as a day of good luck, to the extent that on that day, gamblers often bets are made on that number. The associations are similar to those of Friday 13 in Anglo-Saxon cultures or Friday 17 in Italy.

Why the 13th?

The number thirteen has been considered ill-omened from antiquity because there were twelve apostles at the Last Supper, and Jesus Christ was the 13th, and he died. The Kabbalah, like the Norse legends, lists 13 evil spirits, and Revelation Chapter 13 is about the antichrist and the beast. In the Tarot, this number represents death.

Why Tuesday?

The combination with Tuesday is thought by some to have its origin at the end of the Middle Ages, as it was on Tuesday May 29, 1453 that the city of Constantinople fell to the Turks.

An even older possible reason is that Spanish martes (Tuesday) is derived from the name of the planet Mars (marte), which in the Middle Ages was called “the little evil” and represents will, energy, tension and aggressiveness. Mars (Ares in Greek) is the god of war, and Tuesday being ruled by Mars, is associated with destruction, blood and violence. Finally, legend says that the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel occurred on Tuesday 13th (or perhaps Friday 17th).

Not being superstitious I’ve never worried about these things. But even if I were I reckon that because I’m not Spanish this doesn’t apply to me, and because I’m living in Spain I’m also safe from unlucky Friday the 13th.  Win-win. But just in case…f_goodluck.gif