Jennifer and Dave visit

 Jennifer & Dave arrived Wednesday afternoon. In the early evening we opened a bottle of corpinat. Then we headed out in a steady drizzle to Islamorada tapas bar.  We had a selection of tapas to share and provide an introduction to options for dining in Sevilla. We are missing a photo of the tacos ibericos (yummy) and half the presa dish which we dove into and devoured in about five minutes. The pork was perfectly cooked and very tender and full of flavor. We will definitely get that one again. Had the puntillitas and the huelva white shrimp and the boquerones fritos. Also the house special tortilla trufada.  Also introduced them to the salmorejo (this was not a traditional salmorejo so we'll have to try another place for that "education") 

what we started with at home-

Second night out with Jennifer & Dave. We went to another fave with different choices but still some classic tapas along with local preparations of various ingredients. We started with puntillitas (a little larger than yesterday's) and the aguacate cannelón with crab stuffing, then the tempura shrimp tacos.  Our mains were a rib eye, and the terrific arroz dish that we love here. We also managed the berenjenas (eggplant fries) and the tuna nigiri. The photos are of the plaza on the way over to the restaurant. For some reason, every time I make this trip across the old city I fall in love with Sevilla all over again. #solucky #LivingAbroad

The door to the stairs to our apartment as we returned home. Elevator doorway is off to the left side so we didn't have to hike to the top floor. Especially after Jennifer "forced" Dave to do all 38 ramps to the top of the Giralda (Bell tower) of the Cathedral today! He got to take the elevator home tonight. 

Friday night dinner with Jennifer and Dave. We braved fairly heavy rain to head out for dinner. Tonight we dined at Petit Comité. We started with orzo salad and duck breast stuffed with foie gras and albondigas (meatballs), along with tuna tartare tostas.  Then we went on to  mains of grilled pork and steak followed by virtually the entire dessert menu. We did not go home hungry. Added bonus our walk home was not under rainy skies because the rain had let up for at least the fifteen minute walk.

Farewell dinner for Dave & Jennifer's visit to Sevilla. We had a substantial meal of all "starters" never made it to the carne or pescado. All selections marked. A few new things to introduce our guests to more classic Spanish options. Tonight we ordered a more traditional tortilla and the "matrimonio" (boquerones y cantabrian anchovies) and also new to them this preparation of puntillitas with egg and truffle and roasted red peppers. We had Atun marinado on toast and the buñelos of bacalao were also new. They had gambas al ajillo at lunch one day so that was not new to them. The two Arroz dishes were both excellent (the arroz negro with sepia ink was new to them.) So I think overall they had a good sampling in the four evening meals we shared. They are off on the high speed train (the AVE) tomorrow morning, heading to Madrid for a few days before returning to Denver. It has been completely fun catching up with Jennifer. We had many adventures together in our years as travel buddies (just ask us about the "free blouse $40 lining" or her tailoring of the jean skirt in Hanoi for 25¢). We also got some get to know you better time with hubby Dave who was an excellent sport at "try this you might like it" food selections that he likely never would have ordered. A quality that we wish some of our guests had more of... LOL

Fun visit and now on to the end of the week and a visit from Claus & Evi and Mac & Niti.  Then the following week - we have Megna and Christian.  Then we start our hoolidays and begin thinking about preparing for return to Chicago - as we will be gone for two weeks in April and then Oscar comes to stay again and we all basicaly leave together...  time flies.  By the middle of next week I will have been here five months! Stay tuned!

between guests

 Jean and Tim left early Tuesday morning. So we ate at home on Tuesday night because it was class night for Phil and we had things to eat in the house. LOL Then our next meal out was Wednesday and wanting something easy and comfort food like we chose MING. 

We eat out nearly every night but on the nights we stay home it pretty much is an easy dinner and always includes salad if I have my way. These are two recent ones. I usually get a photo of the salad and then get involved in getting dinner on the table. Tonight it was salmon and baked potatoes. Earlier in the week it was mushroom and chicken Alfredo pasta with asparagus (Phil's fave). There aren't many salad choices on menus here so I feel like it's a real treat to have it at home. Tonight I added chopped figs and last time it was hearts of palm.   The padron peppers are a good flavor booster and the cherry tomatoes have actual flavor! If we have avocados I add those, but we had avocado toast for brunch today. #LivinginSpain 

Then on Friday, we tried a new place for sushi. It was EXCELLENT! We really appreciated that there were more than three choices for sashimi (standard for most of the local places). Every course was great but next time we limit the oysters to two pieces and the Maki to four rather than eight. That way we could try different things as well as return to ones we loved tonight. #hastaluego

Saturday brought a new Italian to try- another new place for dinner. Maccheroni & CO. We are still searching for "our Italian place."  Everything was good but we're looking for the equivalent of the place in Rome by our apartment, or the one two campos away from our hotel in Venezia, or the one around the corner from our place in Bologna or Trieste. You get the gist of it. Approaching two dozen trips to Italy have spoiled us to want authentic food.

Sunday We had a great day.... We started with Costco bagels at home for brunch. Then later in the afternoon we went to the cinema to see "A Complete Unknown" - our first outing to the peliculas (films) in Spain. And finally, we met our friend Helena and her partner Lope for burgers nearby (really good ones) at GOIKO and then we ended our evening at MITO (where we met Helena.) Despite our age difference, we have in common that we are all expats. Helena & Lope are from Brazil.

A MOVISTAR+ cable advertisement playing before the movie. Even in Spain, you can't get away from the orange menace

Monday we met up with Becky and Mary, two of Phil's classmates for dinner at Casapuerta.

Tuesday is Phil's class night so it's "eat at home" night.  And then Wednesday our next guests arrive - my "danger zone" travel buddy andheer husband.  Then the remainder of March will bring us six more guests. At the end of the month, we meet up with friends in Cádiz. Busy bees are we. LOL