Seville's springtime parties go all night long

The Ferias of southern Spain are a celebration of Springtime!

Hello my friends!

Happy Monday…I hope that you had a wonderful weekend. It seems like Spring is here, finally, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year, not just because the cherry blossoms have bloomed in DC, or because the first new vegetables of the season are coming up, but because in Andalucía it is the time of the Feria de Abril, which is held every April in Seville. Over 1,000,000 people come every year to this amazing celebration of food, family, friends, and Flamenco music and dancing. 

This is a festival that dates back to the 19th century when it began as a farmer’s fair for the buying and selling of cattle and horses. It has grown up quite a lot from that time. Not too many people selling cows now…but you will find over a thousand “casetas,” striped tents, small and big, that pop up across the fairgrounds where groups get together for drinking, eating, music and dancing. Everyone dresses up, even me (but without the tie because it’s usually too hot for me). 

There are Spanish cowboys on horseback riding through the streets (so you have to watch out or you will be under hoof!), and daily bullfights. It’s just a lively vibrant atmosphere, and with so much food…the best seafood, the best tomatoes, the best wine! The parties go on all day and well into the night…!

If you had a chance to see the Andalucía episode of my show José Andrés and Family in Spain, maybe you already know how much I love this festival and some of the other ferias of southern Spain, which go throughout springtime. I went with my daughters, Carlota and Inés, and they got dressed up in beautiful brightly colored dresses for flamenco dancing and their first Feria de Jerez, an hour south of Seville. 

To celebrate Feria here in the US, we have many, many festivities planned in New York City at Mercado Little Spain, with a menu of culinary specials and sherry flights at Spanish Diner and La Barra that celebrate the spirit of Andalucía. We’ll also have flamenco dancing nightly in the plaza and Andalusian wine makers pouring bottles from the region. We will end our Feria with Andalucía: One Night Only—an Andalucían seafood tasting menu at La Barra, on April 29th at 7pm. Try to book your seat early because they tell me it’s going to be popular! 

At Nubeluz, my skyhigh bar at the Ritz Carlton Nomad, we are also celebrating with performances by dance trio Flamenco Flavor and the music of David M Castellano. I have to say, and I know maybe I am biased, but I think it’s one of the most beautiful ways to spend an evening in New York City. 

Let me know what you think if you have a chance to stop by!