Our first dinner with neighbor Mary who is visiting from Chicago for the next week or so. We went to Islamorada - our go to for first night guests making the time change (they open early for Spain LOL.) We shared started of jamon and croquetas and the tortilla with truffle. Mains ordered include the presa (pork chops without bone) and the pork cheeks (long slow braising makes them a "go-to" dish for rainy chilly nights like last night) and red tuna in garlic and oil. The cheeks were the favorite of the mains. The desserts were a cheesecake slice and two gelato servings for the MITO fans (us) in the party LOL. Walked home past the cathedral to give Mary a short orientation for her tour there this morning. We have her on a busy schedule for the next eight days including a field trip for two nights on the road to the north with Cáceres and Mérida.
Mary started her day with a tour of the Cathedral, then Phil took her to the plaza Espana and for a walk along the Gualdalquivir River. Then they went into Triana and had coffee and then came back over the Isabel II bridge and later stopped for a drink.
Dinner with Mary night two - one of our favorite tapas bars. Dos de Mayo. Started with croquetas of spinach & cod (no photo) went on with the Jamon and pan cristal, along with shrimp in garlic olive oil (see video). We also shared puntillitas and a flamenquin of cold de toro and a large mixed salad (photos missing of the last two dishes, sorry)
On the walk home @10:15 PM we saw two separate groups amassing for practice for Semana Santa. And passed a garage where the platform for the procession was waiting for the bearers to arrive for practice.
The city is in full prep mode for Semana Santa with the viewing stands being built along Plaza San Francisco and band members practicing for the processions.
On her third day in Spain, Mary & Phil went to Cordoba on the high speed train to have lunch and visit the Mezquite-Cathedral.
Our third dinner with Mary, this one at La Brunilda. We shared the risotto for three, Mary and I had their (best in the city) ensaladilla, then Phil and Mary shared the salmon in Thai chili sauce. Phil had a taco iberico and I had queso costeño. Excellent meal and we all walked to MITO for ice cream.
Mary and I went to cooking class Saturday morning. We made salmorejo, sangria, espinacas con garbanzos, and paella. Lots of fun and excellent food!
A few photos from the Mercado de Triana this morning. We did a short tour before the cooking class and then ate the results of the class.
And here are some more photos from cooking school.
An excellent morning - in the afternoon Mary went to the Cathedral to celebrate Mass. Then Phil met her for some shopping for the grands. Our dinner Saturday night was at Tradevo Centro. We had a variety of favorites. Mary and I weren't too hungry since our lunch was LARGE so the choices were limited by the lack of hunger not by the menu...
We started with a shared canelón of crab and avocado, then P and I had tacos gambones, then I had the cazuelita de verdures, Phil had the carrillada, and Mary had a shrimp dish with fried eggs and potatoes,
We took the special dessert of torrija to share so Mary could taste the "Easter" treat.
We stopped at MITO and headed home- it was a long day for Mary who has been a really trooper about the meals. She's very much a morning person! Ending here- we are half way through Mary's trip to visit us in Spain and there will be another post - part Two!
