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!
