On Monday we have Leslie - our trainer in the afternoon. We had dinner with Mike & Janet (expat friends) at a favorite of ours. Ordered the two specials. Salmon sausage and sea bass "meatballs." Along with some of our regular items. The tarta de queso is always superb. The tosta de tuna tartare with the tuna bone marrow is still fabulous and the tartaleta gambones was my favorite dish of the evening. The cecina and caramelized foie is a kick butt combo that never fails to satisfy. We had two excellent corpinats (Recaredo Terrers not shown). A fun evening.
the dog was really sweeet and well behaved and he got a big bone from the restaurant across the street.
Earlier Tuesday, we met with our attorney to discuss a new business venture of hers and ideas for increasing her market. Then we had lunch at Mokombo (which was not as good as last time we were there - maybe an off day...) but the mini empanadas were good and came to the table hot and fresh.
Meanwhile Tuesday was Giving Day for Apes. Our adopted orangutan since pre COVID, shown below, is Louie. We now have added his dear friend Allie to our adopted brood. The Center for Great Apes is a sanctuary that we have supported for a decade or more. It is the fourth listed charity on Jane Goodall's list of favorites per the CNN report.
The sanctuary is not a zoo and not open to the public. Members may visit on two open house days each year from noon to three. If you become an adoptive "sponsor" to a resident chimpanzee or orangutan, a special visit can be arranged to spend time with your adopted ape(s) and their caregivers. We visited Louie and Allie the last time we were in central Florida.
I fell in love with Louie on our first visit as members in the mid teens and we have sponsored him for birthday parties and general adoption since. He is a very special guy. His "partner" Allie has been paralyzed in her legs since she was roughly 4 months old. He makes sure she always gets her share and more of any treats and enrichment. He is always watching her to ensure she can get around on her fire hoses. They are just such an inspiration, watching out for each other and enjoying each other's company.
The Center for Great Apes (from CNN)
Goodall was an honorary board director at The Center for Great Apes and frequently participated in fundraising for the sanctuary.
The center is a “retirement home” for chimpanzees and orangutans who have left the entertainment industry, or were rescued from the exotic pet trade and medical research.
The sanctuary is home to more than 70 great apes, who frolic in a lush Florida jungle outfitted with climbing structures, swinging vines and numerous toys and enrichment activities.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/01/us/remembering-jane-goodall-through-her-favorite-charities
Our Center for Great Apes crushed it with a number of matching donations adding more than $20K to the total. They also got a prize of an additional $2500 for having raised the most money in the first power hour earlier in the day. We now have also won the bonus $$$ for the second power hour. The excellent news is that we have more than doubled the goal amount. Of note, many donations were made in memory of or in honor of Jane Goodall, who supported the CGA as a director for many years. She will be missed by so many.
Wednesday night we made our first outing this season to Petit Comité.
Here are some photos of our walk home from dinner. Followed by food photos from dinner. Followed by the menu - the gift tastes from the chef and the starter cava courtesy of the restaurant. All really excellent. The mushroom.carpaccio was innovative and tasty. The orzo salad is a favorite for the last year. Phil ALWAYS orders the duck and foie gras starter. The wine, a straight garnache was terrific. We'll look for it again. Perfect temperature for the stroll home. #expatlife
Thursday night we were able to grab a reservation at Brunilda weeks ago when we thought Georgia would be going with us but she went back to the States on Monday morning so it was just the two of us.
A start for Phil's birthday season.
Thursday night for dinner we returned to La Brunilda, a very popular creative tapas place. We like the food there. We laughed when we saw the line to get in as the place opened at exactly 8:30. We had reservations and we knew that there were more people in line than would fit in the small restaurant. They have exactly seven seats at the bar that are unreserved each night. There are two seatings 8:30 and 10:30. There are roughly 30 seats at tables. We know this place needs to be reserved waaaay ahead. I made the reservation nearly three weeks ago, and it was the first available date.
So as we waited for the doors to open we predicted how many, and who, would be turned away. The woman who runs the door for admission is a strong personality. She knows where the reservations go on the seating chart and directs those people immediately to their tables. If you don't have a reservation and are not in the first group for the 7 bar seats.
The two women in front of us had a 10:30 reservation and she told them to come back at 10:30. She's no nonsense. She has to be. Throughout the meal people come in with various attitudes. The guy who simply held up two fingers and when he received a head shake went back outside where his companion was waiting (the "polite" model) - the three women who paraded in as if they owned the place, and stood fidgeting until they were waited on by the busy staff, who turned them away after some resistance on their part. (All blondes, I regret to add, as if entitlement came with hair color 🙄)
So the "people watching" here is one of the best things about the place. We had a few favorites - I had queso casteño and mushroom risotto and Phil had a taco and a new dish - the arroz de pato (duck). We went to MITO for gelato on the way home.#
Friday night dinner was at Amara, on the tasting menu, only two menu items have changed since we were there last. Next time I think I will be ordering a la carte. Which still had many good choices including the best steak i have had in Sevilla in the whole time we have lived here.
One more meal to complete the week- at Casapuerta on Saturday night. Caught up with Blanca at La Casapuerta. She was among the first people we met two years and eight months ago when we came for language immersion classes here in Sevilla. A lovely woman who we are always happy to see. Phil had the special tuna carpaccio and the entrecote steak. I had the beef carpaccio and the César salad. We split the croquetas del chef (half asparagus and half Jamon). They didn't have the tarta de queso so - surprise! - we went to MITO for gelato and to say hi to Helena who was very busy tonight.
That rounded out our third week here and on Sunday Phil left for 17 days in Chicago for various pre-planned activities.
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