Nerja and Malaga and a bit of a rant about self catering

From Seville train to Malaga and bus to Nerja just for the night, went to all our usual haunts, hit about 9 or 10 bars, Pepe Moles best food as always, great welcome in Rincon de Sabor and Los Barillas, like being at home, the three Spanish Troubadours played in Barillas along with the great cheese tapas made it a highpoint.

Back to Malaga the next morning, dropped bags off went for a stroll, bit of shopping and some great food.  Had nothing bad but as always  Cortido de Pepe was a highlight, surprisingly quiet and Tapas de Cervantes, possibly even better than it's usual "favourite tapas bar in the whole world" label - again a friendly welcome back from the owner and great recommendations.  Had a glass in La Tranca to finish - absolutely rammed, great atmosphere.

<RANT>
Self Catering - do this a lot, especially, Oz, Spain and USA, I love cooking and am happy to do it on my hols - however there should be a minimum set of things, some which I didn't get in Seville:

Salt
Pepper or chilli

oil of some sort, preferably olive
vinegar - unless citrus fruits grow abundantly

frying pan
couple of pans with lids
wooden spoon
reasonable sharp knife
chopping board

A few staples wouldn't go amiss - pasta, rice, tea, coffee

Most places I go to have most of these, but I to buy salt, a knife and oil last week, not expensive (all told less than €3) and I left them all for next visitor, but I think there should be an acceptable minimum
</RANT>

Seville 2

Went out with Mr and Mr K lat night to Bodega on Alfalfa square, had a couple of bottles of Ramon Bilbao, surito, barenjas, solomillo, salmonitas loved it all, lads had massive G&Ts to start, then a couple more drinks atLas Teresas with Jamon y queso.

Went for a good walk today into Triana, good market, lovely shops, quick beer in a place that gave free gambas - result! then had lunch in E Morales in city centre - espinaches y garbanzos, albondigas, ensalada russ and pimientos y atun with good beers and wines.  Making chicken fajitas in flat tonight

intermission - Belfast

Mentioned going to Belfast last week, did so, good beers, ate in Mourne Seafood Bar, as we went in at 6 on a Saturday in October did not bother making a reservation, only got away with it, as there was a cancellation!  Pints out were good, bit Belfast can be a bit messy, would not like to be pissed there as too many chances for trouble.  MSB was excellent, had 4 or 5 starters, crab claws, stuffed peppers, chowder, mussels, chips all great loved it - now back to Seville

Seville

Back in Seville for the first time in a few years.  Firstly I've never been here when it is anything but roasting and it has pissed down for the last 3 days and forcast is crap for tomorrow, but....

Really doesn't matter, although I would like to go to Italica (birthplace of Trajan and where Hadrian grew up), we are here for a rest and good cheap wine and tapas.  Only one mediocre glass of wine, all other great, food brilliant. 
Highlights up to now are Bar Las Terasas, been here a few times before, definitely the best Jamon and queso tapas we've ever had.  Taberna Aguilas was great, loved the mini hamburger.  Bar Alfalfa and Bodega also great in Plaza Alfalfa.  Penacultural Betica Puerta de la Carne (Real Betis supporters club) was also good, pork cheeks my favourite.  Went back to Casa Joaquin, a place we always went for a good glass of wine.

Couple of local bars, also good, only had a late tapa, so may review further.  It is a pity about the weather, just come from 2 hours in the Arab Baths so feeling great now.  will make tuna salad for lunch and then go for a walk in the rain ;)

Vintage Kitchen

It's almost boring to say how good Vintage Kitchen is (again), booked early July for last night, took a lovely Ramon Bilbao 2012 Crianza.  Quick pint in Mulligans next door then usual warm welcome.

Bread and butter perfect, she had chili prawn risotto, I had pork belly for starters, mains poussin for me, lamb shanks for her.  Every element perfect, not as massive as previous visits, but still huge portions, steak looked excellent as well.  Finished with an espresso, always too much lovely savory food to be able to manage dessert - sigh - maybe one day!

 Making risotto tonight, up to Belfast tomorrow, not been up for a couple of years, probably Mourne Seafood Bar for dinner.

Roast tomato soup and Nepalese

Have a glut of tomatoes, so roast about a kilo with a few small red onions from the allotments, garlic, olive oil, balsamic, thyme, salt and pepper.  About an hour on gas 5.  Picked out the thyme stalks then into blender until smooth, added about 100ml of single cream, seasoned  and had with crusty bread.

Last night went to Sagarmatha Kitchen in Swords last night on a deal, decent glass of house red, dips with popadums seemed home made, I had lovely veg somosas, San had duck sekuwa, very nice both.  For mains lamb ledobedo and lekali (I asked for it hot), one pilau, one plain naan.  All very good, shot of nepalese rum afterwards with the bill.  Definitely worth another visit.

Going out to a 21st tonight, so probably finger food, may have her parents over tomorrow, not sure what the plan is, if not probably roast chicken

Cork

Cork for weekend, planned on Cafe Gusto, which we love, but closed, not mentioned on website last week, bit of a shame.  Went to Market Lane, really good, I had a wild boar ragu, she had an Asian salmon dish.  Both great, nice wine , finished with a chocolate pot.  Had some good craft beers, through the evening, starting in Franciscan Well, obv!  Meades bar 126 both night, love it, Arthur Maynes, Rising Sun Brewery, Gallagher's pub on MacCurtain Street for a bite to eat and a drink.  Honan chapel to look at the Harry Clarke windows after mass Sunday, and Crawford Gallery - bit quiet new exhibitions on way. 

Clonakilty and cooking

Had a coupler of days work in Clonakilty, West Cork.  Stayed in Fernhill House Hotel, fantastic breakfasts, obviously black and white puddings were excellent (Clonakilty is famous for black pudding), food smelt nice, but didn't eat there, eat in The Copper Pot, excellent monkfish in a salmon butter, had a less memorable burger in a bar the other night.  Pints in De Barra's famous bar and a couple of others.

Yesterday:
Last visit to allotment for the year, got a bag of spuds and about 10kg red and white onions, couple of ugly cauliflowers as well.  On way home called into Tesco, to get some short date mince, as I was out of Ragu, they had a couple of (non-free range) chicken for €0.90 each!!!  I would normally only buy free range, not that I give a toss about animal welfare, but because it tastes better, but at that price, as long as I can add flavour (and practise cutting up birds) could not loose.

Made a large amount of Ragu, took the wings off chickens dry rubbed them in coriander, chilli, cumin, salt and pepper and then roasted them.  Took legs off put into yoghurt and spices for a curry, that is cooking now.  Took breasts off, cubed them, made a lovely creamy chicken, mushroom as below.  Used rest of chicken to make a couple of litres of stock.

Creamy chicken and mushroom.

Fry chicken breast cubes, until golden, then reserve, add peeled shallots and small brown mushrooms to pan, brown, then add meat back in.  Pint of freshly made stock, pot of creme fraiche, couple of bay leaves and season.  Cook for about 30 minutes, lovely.  Freeze and will serve with rice or maybe boiled potatoes.

Roasted pork loin, roast potatoes, baby carrots (last from allotment), broccoli and gravy from freezer.  Excellent dinner.  San going out, so might have a bit of ragu, chicken wings or curry, should use the cauliflower, but does look grotty, so not sure....

Simly Fosh - Palma

5 course lunch in Simply Fosh in Palma, menu below:

Soup was fantastic, cheese very very good, we both had pork, good, I had serviola (swordfish-y), again good, San had quinoa risotto - stand out dish!  mango with olive oil cake brilliant, San liked the chocolate, but I'm not a fan of really dark chocolate, so didn't.   Bottle of their own label rueda, really excellent, staff great, had a walk then a nice local glass in a pretty hotel courtyard then went to Caxia Forum for a El Greco exhibition.  Pissing down again now, may not get a late drink, good job plenty in apartment....

More Palma

Gambas a la spaghetti was lovely, marinaded chicken in garlic and lemon overnight.  Had a great glass of wine out late with good tapa in local bar, can't remember what...

Couple of museums today, gorgeous brunch, San had tosada con tomate and I had a montadito of tomato and excellent jamon.  Had a couple of great pintxos in a little bar la 5a puenta.  The AirBnB man recommended 4 bars, 3 have been open and all excellent.

Made chicken fajitas, marinated chicken, peppers, bit of chilli and onion.  Salsa of spring onion tops, tomatoes (seem to be the best toms we've every had anywhere),chilli, salt and olive oil, warmed shop tortillas in oven, had some shop caesar dressing with it, really good, no plans for tomorrow, presume will go for glass later