Eat in Seville

If you’ve got one evening to splurge in Seville, we recommend dining where the diplomats, celebrities and socialites do, in the restaurant at Hotel Taberna del Alabardero. Located on Calle Zaragoza 20, it’s a short walk from the Alcazar Palace, Seville Cathedral and it's housed in an elegantly restored mansion, formerly residence of the famous 19th-century poet, J. Antonio Cavestany.

While the restaurant serves traditional, regional and national Spanish food, it’s also a culinary college run by Chef Juan Marcos, so be prepared to taste an innovative menu, with variations on Spain’s classic bull cheek meat, tapas and olive oils. I enjoyed my dinner with Rioja wine; however, the restaurant has a wine list representing every Spanish region.

But if you’re looking for something more “budget friendly,” GatG recommends tapas bar-hopping. Tapas are small dishes that showcase the array of Spanish cuisine. Haven’t you ever sat at a restaurant for dinner in the U.S. and wished you could order a little bit of everything? Well, in Spain you can! Depending on your preference, tapas dishes can include prawns, tuna, squid, octopus, pork, snail, clams, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, cheese, eggs, and much, much more!

While dinner is served late in Spain (anywhere from 8-10PM) you may find it easier to head to a tapas bar in the evening, like the locals. The benefits of tapas bar-hopping are enjoying a wider variety of food and smaller portions, while strolling through the romantic city and meeting with friends. Occasionally, tapas are served complimentary at bars, when ordering sherry, sangria, or other cocktails, but, expect to pay for them as well.

See you Friday for shopping tips in Seville!

Does this Sign Look Familiar to You?

After disembarking an overcrowded, hot and smelly plane, passengers line around the luggage carousel to anxiously gather their belongings. While standing shoulder-to-shoulder, word gets out that their flight is assigned to an alternate carrousel. Like cattle, the herd tramples over each other. Black, navy blue, black, red. “Excuse me, Excuse me.” They excitedly scan each piece of newly dispelled cargo, until making an association with “the one.” It is then strolled to their cab, and unloaded at home, where they finally realize, they’ve chosen the wrong one. But who could be this stupid and careless?

Me. December 2003. After traveling internationally for a couple of days I was so excited to see my friends and family that I accidentally picked up another huge navy blue suitcase identical to mine. So, you could start to “Check your tags.” Or you could do what I do, buy a set of terribly bright pink luggage that no one in the world would ever have.

City of the Week: Seville, Spain

Romantic Seville, our favorite Spanish city of the south, sits in Andalucia, making it an excellent base for either touring the region’s sherry bodegas and bullrings to the nearby west, or the posh beach resorts to the east, in Spain’s sunny Costa del Sol. However, as Seville is the capital of Andalucia, you won't need to escape the city to explore the region’s rich history of Arabic and Roman roots.

You can begin strolling through the Old Town’s narrow cobblestoned alleyways, arriving at the Gothic cathedral and La Giralda –minaret, which was named an UNESCO World Heritage site and was once used as a vantage point, offering spectacular views over the town. Continue to the Alcazar Palace, originally a Moorish Fort, and the famous 12-sided Torre del Oro. Other areas of interest include the Jewish Quarter, Barrio de Santa Cruz (which include unique white and ochre houses), and the Basilica de la Macarena (featuring the Virgin of Hope).

Make sure you spend an evening in one of the festive flamenco bars, where tapas and sangria are served over a show. If visiting Seville on a Sunday in April (after Easter) through mid-October, you can catch a bull fight at the Plaza de Toros Real Maestranza. If visiting the town out of bull season, you can still tour the bullring’s museum to get a glimpse of the impressive costumes, tools, posters, and the infirmary where bullfighters are sent when defeated!

Finally, if time is on your side, head to the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts), arguably the second museum of Spanish art after the Prado in Madrid. Inside, you’ll find works from Spanish artists, Murillo, Zurbaran, Valdes Leal, El Greco, and Velazquaz—the Spanish equivalent to the Italian-baroque Caravaggio.

Hungry for more? See you right here on Wednesday and Friday for further tips on where to eat and where to shop!

Eataly, Italy

Turin, the region’s capital, is home to Eataly, a food emporium endorsed by Slow Food,the movement turned organization dedicated to combating fast food by teaching the world about the culture of cuisine. Good food for all, the philosophy of Slow Food maintains eating well was not intended for intimate, privileged circles.

Eataly is housed in the former Carpano Vermouth Factory, and sells fresh food, wine and coffee produced from small companies, farmers and enologists throughout Italy’s 20-some regions, while also offering open cooking classes, olive oil and wine tastings. While touring through Eataly, customers can stop along the way to enjoy a margherita pizza, prosciutto crudo, mozzarella and more. However, GatG recommends taking home a few staples from Turin's Piedmont region, Barolo wine (produced from the nebbiolo grape), polenta, and the Baratti&Milano Cioccolata.