We had been invited to attend “The Festival of Andalusian Gastronomy 2020”, which, unfortunately, was cancelled in March 2020 due to the start of the COVID-19 restrictions. We now fast-forward two years to March 2022. After meeting the group at the Hotel Abades Nevada Palace de Granada, we board the coach for our first visit to the Costa Tropical (where there are dozens of beaches and small coves with crystal-clear water and 320 days of sunshine per year). It has an average

CASA SEVILLA This restaurant is in the middle of Almería, heading toward the port area. It is set in an alleyway off the main street and was full of locals on the evening we attended, which is always a good sign. There are tables outside in the alleyway, a restaurant in a room at the back, and tall tables with stalls in the bar area. They serve a very varied menu, including Almería’s typical traditional dishes and house specialities. With every drink, we had a copa de cava (

HOTEL CASA DE LAS CUATRO TORRES Cádiz is a city and port in south-west Spain. It is the capital of the province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain and one of the oldest in western Europe. Despite its unique site, on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ Cádiz is, in most respects, a typically Andalusian city with a wealth of attractive vistas and well-preserved historic

VENETIIS RESTAURANT This restaurant is undoubtedly a great discovery for us in Benalmádena Pueblo. Chef Matteo Manzato mixes Italian and Malagueña cuisine to stunning effect in a carefully designed, atmospheric environment. It has its own style, mixing great service, excellent food, and fine cuisine. The presentation of every dish is an ultimate picture that everyone would love to share on Instagram. We had the extremely reasonable tasting menu, un paseo por Ventiis menú degu

An evening tapas tour in the stunning, sunny city of Sevilla with Shawn Hennessey of Sevilla Tapas. After meeting Shawn in the Plaza Nueva by the Hotel Inglaterra, we headed to our first stop at Bodeguita Romero. BODEGUITA ROMERO Calle Harinas, 10, 41001 Sevilla +34 954 229 556 www.bodeguitaromero.es This is the place to go if you want the best pringá montaditos (a small toasted bun filled with pork, chorizo, and blood sausage) in town. Their famous papas aliñadas (marinated

BODEGAS PEDRO DOMECQ The Pedro Domecq Bodega (famous for Harvey’s Bristol Cream, Terry’s Brandy, and Fundador Sherries) is an enjoyable experience that can be arranged shortly before your visit. The guides speak good English and give an in-depth tour of the bodega. They explain how the different types of sherry and brandy are produced, stored, bottled, and marketed under their distinct brand names. The Solera system is explained. To keep the sherry tasting the same, a third

VERMÚ MARBELLA In the Kitchen, you have Tatiana Bautista, with guidance from Michelin-starred chef Jaume Puigdengolas Rey, who worked at Abac and Hoffman in Barcelona, as well as at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai and Skina in Marbella. On this lunchtime visit, we had Anchoas Cantabria (Cantabrian anchovies). Berberechos de la casa. (house style cockles). Cebolletas a la brasa y en tempura con romesco. Mini calçots (a type of giant spring onion/leek) grilled and fried in tempura

LOBITO DE MAR Michelin Plate IIO This beachless chiringuito on the N-340, on the outskirts of Marbella, is less expensive than Dani García’s other ventures; nevertheless, it still offers superb quality. It’s a very hip, modern and inviting restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere. On arrival, the fish in the display cabinet looked very fresh. I liked that they have made space for a tapas chillout section. We had a few tapas to start. Tapa de gazpacho. Tapa gambas blanco (w

KAVA Michelin Plate IIO In early March, we revisited one of our favourite places in Marbella, restaurant KAVA. Chef Fernando Alcalá, a former lawyer, prepares a menu of 10 dishes that change with seasonal produce and its availability at the market. There are two menús Menú Corto (six dishes) €55 Menú Largo (ten dishes) €85 Wine pairing is available. Each dish is comprised of three basic ingredients, with no fear of combining citrus, acids, and heat. Some of the ingre

RESTAURANT ABANTAL One Michelin Star Abantal was opened by chef Julio Fernández Quintero in 2004. After training at the Taberna del Alabardero in Sevilla and a spell in Washington, D.C., in the USA, Julio returned to Sevilla and opened Abantal. The restaurant was awarded a Michelin Star in 2009 and has held it ever since. It is currently the only restaurant in Sevilla that has that distinction. They only have two set menus, One for €100 and one for €80, with a wine pairing