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Juan-Carlo Tomás

@juancarlotomas

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Grows, cooks, tastes and writes.
📍Málaga

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WE’VE MOVED! Just after we returned from Bologna we finally managed to secure a flat in Málaga after nearly a year of Blair commuting there regularly.

As expected, after living in our piso in Madrid for more than 5 years the move was complicated but luckily everything made it over, even all the plants!

Our new digs are in the heart of Soho, right by the port and maybe a 7-minute walk to the historic centre, and 5-minutes to the main railway station. I love how we’re right above a small strip of tapas bars. Our closest beach is 15-minutes away on foot.

Oddly, I was back in Madrid 2 weeks later to wrap up some things and stumbled across our old building on fire! The restaurant below was ablaze - to think we would have been completely smoked out had we not moved a fortnight earlier.

Now there’s time and space to find our new faves here - already getting to know my local mercado municipal at Huelin, we’ve met some lovely locals (even with their own gelato business) and there’s a whole ecosystem of rotisserie chicken shops to explore. ¡Viva Málaga! taken in Málaga, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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a month ago

Isn’t it great when holidays bunch up because you’ve not been posting them? On holiday again and now I feel less conflicted about feeding social media these memories from our trip to Bologna in May, ostensibly so I could learn how to hand roll pasta at @vsb_bologna_spisni, but also to sit around and soak up the atmosphere in this wonderful cradle of civilisation. And Bologna did not disappoint.

From our digs by the Quadrilatero, the ancient mercado alleyways of the historic centre, we enjoyed classics like lasagna and tortellini in brodo with new enthusiasm (especially after learning to roll them around my pinky finger).

We drank amaros in burnt-out-churches-turned-into-bars, visited the temple of Amaro @amaroteca_official, watched Parmigiano-Reggiano being made in Reggio Emilia, sweated it out in a balsamic vinegar cellar and trod endless piazzas. What a thrill it all was! taken in Bologna, Italia by @juancarlotomas

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2 months ago

Of course Lisboa, being such a crossroads and with a population who love to eat and drink deserves a post alone about its food. Our week there coincided with a noted natural wine fair, which gave the whole trip such a wild flavour especially after catching up with @nuria.renom!

From multiple piri piri chickens, the best for us was at @zubirchurrasqueira thanks to a 🔥 tip from @garetheoinstorey. Many days began with a bifana - their beloved sandwich of slow cooked sliced pork in a spicy sauce - but we also got to newish and fancy spots like @prado_restaurante to see what new energy was bubbling around all the mass tourism.

By chance we caught up with @kiatyeen so it was off to grand dame @cervejariaramirooficial for spider crab, gambas a la aguillo and scallops, before stumbling across a terrific lunch in the sun at the restaurant of the old Naval Association in Belem, plus an obligatory seat next to a mournful fado singer. Surprise highlight: a Goan Indian lunch thanks to @culinarybackstreetslisbon. Lots of fun! taken in Lisbon, Portugal by @juancarlotomas

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2 months ago

30 seconds after full time. taken in Málaga, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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3 months ago

We first visited Porto in 2022 but we only made it to Lisboa four years later, just before Easter. What a charming city we found, under assault from mass tourism but with glimpses of life as it had always been if you looked into the cracks or stepped up a level. We went back repeatedly for peri peri chicken and bifanas. And those tiles. taken in Lisboa, Portugal by @juancarlotomas

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3 months ago

At the end of February we crawled out of hibernation and finally made it to Lyon where, as they say, tout c’est bon en le bouchon, and what an introduction we had.

Staying in the old quarter of Vieux Lyon, in a tower apartment, we savoured classics like escargot, quenelles of freshwater pike, brioche en croute, salade Lyonnaise, andouillette sausage, tête de veau, îles flotante and basically the entire classic bistro canon. It was everything I could have imagined and more.

What an introduction! All is indeed good in the bouchon. taken in Lyon by @juancarlotomas

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4 months ago

One of Madrid’s more curious traditions is the Entierra de la sardina or Burial of the Sardine, which wraps up festivities for Carnival.

Taking on the appearance and clothing from a famed painting of the same by Goya, the happy confraderie start the day sombre in tone and march from La Latina down to the river and eventually, over to the Casa de Campo where their mood lifts and the sardine and all our burdens from the winter are burnt on a bonfire in an evergreen act of renewal. taken in Madrid, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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4 months ago

Good things I’ve popped in my mouth lately:

- egg and cod roe on a potato cake with cress from @st.john.restaurant in Marylebone
- mince on toast. Oh the college memories!
- pale steamed pork ribs with black beans and chilli from @pearl_liang_restaurant
- mezes from @souksou.madrid
- spring chickweed and winter tomatoes from El Imperio
- gigantes with a sauce of mussels and seaweed at @ceibe_restaurante
- grilled wild corvina with sea vegetables
- cocido de Lalín from @moli_potas
- close up of the meats - ears, tail, snout and cheeks among them
- artichokes with jamón from @restaurante_el_bierzo
- huevos al caballo - for when you feel like you could eat a horse: morcilla, chorizo and bacon with fried eggs on hot chips. So good!
- tomatoes matrimonio: pairs of salt cured and vinegar cured anchovies from the one and only @tabernaelboqueron. taken in Madrid, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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5 months ago

A cold New Year spent in Aberdeen with Blair’s sister Carmen and partner Oscar, where we kilted and had a wee fine knees-up at their Highland Ball. Aside from the wind hitting you in unexpected places (which was to be expected, really), we rang in the new year with massed pipes and drums and goosebumps. taken in Aberdeen by @juancarlotomas

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5 months ago

TWENTY years ago! Happy Anniversary my love and here’s to another 20, wherever we may be. With all my love ❤️ taken in Madrid, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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6 months ago

Cataluña is always a pleasure to visit, especially when the excuse is Lady Gaga. taken in Barcelona, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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7 months ago

The last part of summer’s trip took us through Sevilla, Granada and back to Madrid. From the Andalucian capital's moody Setas to soaring cathedrals, to the summery Plaza de España, little corners of the Alhambra and back to Ratoncito Perez’s apartment and packing suitcases, it was more than I could have ever hoped for and I am so grateful everyone could come along, enjoy and spend time together! taken in Seville, Spain by @juancarlotomas

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7 months ago