That is until last week at my new favorite restaurant in Sevilla (and maybe anywhere). The chef/owner is Gonzalo, our neighbor. He moved in shortly after we did and, until two weeks ago, we had no idea he had opened a new restaurant called Catalina. So, the other day, San Geraldo and I decided to try it out for lunch.
Like so many great things in Sevilla, it's just a 10-minute walk from our house. It's on a small plaza with a big name — Plaza Padre Jerónimo de Córdoba — across the street from Plaza Ponce de León, which is the major bus plaza in the old part of town... that is right next to the Church of Santa Catalina (hence, the restaurant name). The church was built in the 14th century and, as if that weren't long enough ago, it was built on the ruins of a mosque (with portions of the mosque preserved).
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| BETWEEN LUNCH AND DINNER. A GREAT PLACE TO PEOPLE-WATCH. |
I had walked by Catalina many times before not knowing it belonged to Gonzalo. It's got wonderful indoor and outdoor dining spaces, but what always caught my attention were the pastries and gourmet shop I could see through the windows.
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| EVERYTHING FOR THE SWEET TOOTH. NOTICE THE "MMM...!" ON THE WALL. REALLY. |
Every dish we ordered was incredible. But the proof (which is usually in the pudding) was in the anchovies. I hate, hate, hate — with a passion — hate anchovies. I have tried them dozens of times in my not-very-short life and have never — absolutely never, ever — found them remotely palatable. While we enjoyed the incredible dishes we had ordered, Gonzalo sent out a tapa dish for each of us with his complements. Each one was beautifully presented on a slab of rusk (crispy biscuit-like, twice-baked bread). Topping the rusk were slices of plump and delectable red and greenish-brown peppers. Topping the peppers... I could not believe my eyes. A huge anchovy. The biggest anchovies I had ever seen.
'Oh, crap,' I thought. 'I have to be polite and eat it.'
With a smile on my face, I said to San Geraldo, "Is that what I think it is?"
He said, "Yep."
San Geraldo is also not a fan of anchovies. He bravely took a bite of his as I watched with eyes wide. He looked at me and, with a huge grin and a sparkle in his eyes, said. "You are going to love this."
Now San Geraldo is not the type to pretend to like something just so he can watch me gag. He's not that cruel (but, primarily, he can't keep a straight face).
I asked incredulously, "Really?"
He said, "Yes. You are going to love this."
I tried it. I loved it. I devoured my entire portion and I can't wait to go back for more. Anyone (Gonzalo) who can make me love an anchovy truly has a gift.
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| I NO LONGER HATE ANCHOVIES (AS LONG AS THEY'RE PREPARED BY GONZALO.) |
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| MEALS TO GO (I CAN PICK UP A GOURMET DINNER AND PRETEND TO KNOW HOW TO COOK). |
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| GONZALO. DAZZLING SMILE (CHECK OUT THOSE DIMPLES). SINCERE WARMTH. AND HE COOKS, TOO! |
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| SANTA CATALINA, WISHING SHE COULD GET DOWN FROM THERE AND GRAB A BITE TO EAT. |
Catalina (the restaurant) is several blocks away from the Sevilla home (palace) of the Duchess of Alba. I dropped by on my way home but she didn't come to the gate. So I waved "hola" to the dog and kept walking. I'll have to tell her about Gonzalo and Catalina (and the anchovies) some other time.
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| SEVILLA PALACE OF THE DUCHESS OF ALBA. |
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| THE DOG WAS OUT FOR A STROLL (AT LEFT), BUT THE DUCHESS WAS UNAVAILABLE. |
P.S.: I just found Catalina's website: http://www.catalinacasadecomidas.com. Apparently, the menu (carta) is going to be online soon. You can eat your heart out until you get here and then ... eat to your heart's content! — m
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