more dining with Frank

So Jenny left but Frank is here through the week. We have invited him to join us for dinner where ever we have reserved. Last night we went to Castizo. It was a hit and miss dinner - which has been the case each time I have dined there. Several really great courses and a couple of not quite there ones...

Here are my favorites in no particular order. The Presa (perfectly prepared), the mushroom tiramisu, the asparagus, and the chicharones which weren't over fried - just melt in your mouth. We managed to be by another MITO for a sweet ending to the meal. Oh and by the way, the wine was totally kick butt - best syrah EVER. Remember the name. HABLA  it truly spoke of its terroir.

Across from Castizo are several local artisans shops- a shoe guy (who also makes keys LOL) and a guitar repair shop that also appears to MAKE guitars. Here are the facades at night-

Several large concrete planters have shown up along the construction on Calle Zaragoza- we are wondering if it is being turned into a pedestrian street? Only time will tell.... 

Dinner at AMARA, our first and only tasting menu during Frank's time in Sevilla. This six course reasonably priced (48 € each) was a journey through tastes, textures and ingredients with a number of excellent courses. Looking over the menu I can recommend everything and wouldn't skip a single taste. The three "appetizers" were each terrific in their own way. The first course was a mushroom dish (what's not to love?) The main course was a choice of beef or fish. The beef was exactly as I'd like it prepared. Dessert was tasty and crunchy and not too much after a fairly rich meal. Two wines - one to my taste - the other not - and we had plenty to share with the food courses. Frank had dinner guests - friends from a dining group in Chicago who were by happenstance in Sevilla. Phil stayed home and caught up with his Spanish class for the week as he recovers from a *bug* earlier this week.

On Frank's last dinner in Sevilla on this trip we had dinner at a local seafood place called Tradevo. It's over near La Escalona (a regular place for us). We chose this seafood focused menu around the corner from Frank's rental near Plaza Alfalfa for both food and proximity. Everything was excellent and I'd order each dish again on a return trip. Phil was out for the first time since Sunday and he stuck to the arroz dish. Frank and I had terrific tempura tacos  and sardine tostas, as well as the signature canelon aguacate (yum!) We also shared the nigiri which was fab! Nos vamos!

Then on Friday afternoon when we had completed our time with Leslie, Frank came over to hang out for a bit before he left for the airport and his evening flight to Marrakech. He brought wine but we told him it would have to wait and we would drink a toast to him when we opened it and post photos and comments.  He had a nice lunch before we saw him at a place I had marked from an earlier meal he had his this week, that he raved about, El Traja... so we will check it out soon... 

Meanwhile we are looking forward to a quiet weekend and semi quiet next week before guests arrive in early December. Mike, then Lee, then a trip to Madrid. And somewhere in there we renew our visas... we are hoping by December 10th. As we were finally successful at obtaining our Empadronamiento certificate (the last hurdle in the renewal document accumulation.  Fingers crossed! 

Frank joins in

In early April I started seeing a feed on FB of a guy who had sent me a friend request a while back (not sure how long ago.) I didn't know him, but we had a lot of food and wine friends in common, so I accepted the invitation.  As I started seeing more of his posts I learned that he was a traveler. (hear the DING DING DING in the background? LOL)  We had a number of exchanges about food and travel over the past months and it turns out that he has come to Sevilla for a week on his way to north Africa. He is also FB friends with Jenny (she had actually met him in person and reminded us of a dinner we had when we were all at the venue together LOL)  With both Jenny and Frank in Sevilla at the same time we all got to dine together for a few nights. 

We started the evening at the relatively new Vinum-Play on Carlos Cañale. The place has a lot of choices in dispensable wines (you choose the volume) also many wines available for purchase. We asked for an Ossian Blanco but it turned out they didn't have it only a red... So she offered this old vines verdejo that was quite good. The place sells conservas and cheese and a variety of bites to eat with your wine (no cooking just already prepared items.) we will definitely return to this one. Many choices and helpful staff.

Then we went on to La Azotea for dinner.  We had a number of the specials to start. The puntillitas, navajas (razor clams) the gambas, and a fabulous mushroom carpaccio. The next round included the tuna tacos, the veggie parrillada, the salad of langostinos, churros tortilla de camarones, and a (split four ways) mini cheeseburger. Two wines - one I liked but the other, not so much. However it was a good opportunity to explore wines we weren't familiar with. We skipped a potentially heavy dessert and went for ice cream at Bolas where we arrived before their 12:30 closing (and just before the last minute crowds.) Fun evening.

We went on to Bolas for ice cream - still like MITO the best LOL

The next afternoon we joined Jenny for lunch after she had toured the Alcazar and the remains of the 1992 World's Fair up on Cartuja.  We went to Dos de Mayo - in Plaza Gavidia. Tapas all the way. Gambas al ajillo, jamon Iberico, puntillitas, atun Corte, tortillas de camarones.... All tasty. Worth the wait of about 90 minutes.... we sat in the plaza on a bench and drank water on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Then last night we made our way to DESACATO for dinner. Another night, another favorite. Jenny leaves mid-day Sunday. So we picked a place that's a cut above the standard fare. Had four starters and four additional dishes. Two wine choices. Both were good choices. Food choices are marked on the menu.

then Jenny left to return to NYC, and i did laundry to be sure of clean sheets and towels for the next round LOL. Because of Thanksgiving in the US we don't have guests the remainder of the month but the first half of December (until the 16th) is fully booked. Then Larry comes right after new year's. Never a dull moment.  

Meanwhile Frank is in town until Friday so we have at least three more meals scheduled together... stay tuned.