“Near the walls of Seville, at my friend Lillas Pastia’s, I’ll go dance the séguedille and drink manzanilla…” So sang the beautiful-tragic Carmen in that famous 19th-century opera to which she gives name. Well, you don’t have to do the dance once you arrive in the main city of Andalusia. But you should definitely try the “manzanilla”, the great white sherry wine. It’s the ideal appetizer for our excellent gastronomical challenge.
Our idea is to take you to Seville’s main market. In other words, to immerse you in a paradise of aromas and flavors and choose the best products. Then – always in the private company of a master of this cuisine, of course! – you’ll go on to a cooking class that will teach you all the secrets. And there are many secrets. The market tour and the class take 4 hours. And this is just for you and your group of friends, exclusively, let’s make it clear.
One of the strong points of the typical food of Andalusia is its heterogeneity and richness. This can be explained for different reasons. Firstly, for the variety of cultures that have populated its territory. Some flavors and products take us back to Roman times, although the Hebrew and Muslim contributions to Andalusian cuisine are much more recognizable. But don’t underestimate what came from America after its discovery!
Many of its recipes are humble proposals related to traditional Castilian cuisine, while others have their unmistakable local distinctive.
If there is one thing that all typical Andalusian food has in common, it is its intense flavor. You will love to learn how to do it – and then, for sure, try it at home… with a glass of manzanilla!
