If you are a food lover visiting Spain, or Seville specifically, then this place needs to be on…read moreyour to do list. Ellio (like Elliot, but without the 'T') and his wife have put their heart and soul into this shop and it shows. Being world travelers themselves, they understand visitors' needs and give suggestions accordingly and even wrap purchased items to ensure their safe conveyance home.
What will you find here? Only the best jams, cheeses, honeys, specialty canned fish, jamon, spices (like famous Spanish paprika and saffron), olive oil, and wines within 200km of Seville. All local, specialty goods from tiny, family-owned companies. I know because I checked several shops and grocery stores and I did not see similar products.
Ellio was generous enough to set up tastings of sherries, wine, cheeses, and spices. We bought so much excellent stuff (like this naturally spicy and smoky Spanish paprika I cant wait to give to my brother in law to use for good ol' Texas brisket), I really don't know how we will get it all home. We may just end up buying another small luggage. It may sound crazy, but that's how good the stuff is.
Once Ellio understands your likes and dislikes a little more, he can make tailored suggestions. And these recommendations are usually spot on. The guy knows flavors, good food and drink, and can relate to customer needs. A few years ago, a customer visited his shop and asked for Ellio's suggestions for cooking an East Asian style duck. Ellio recommended Seville bitter orange preserves. Well, it turned out to be a hit because the customer, who took a video of his experience and put it on YouTube, was a food critic who extolled the virtues of the Seville bitter orange preserves with duck on a South Korean cooking show. Over the last two years, so many Korean tourists have visited this shop, that when Ellio tried re-arranging the shelves, the customers were thrown for a loop. So Ellio returned the preserves to their original corner and labeled the shelf in Korean. What a story!
I am sure Ellio and his wife's fame will grow as they continue to sell some of the finest products from around Seville to consumers at excellent prices. True value, not outrageous prices for "luxury goods," is what they are all about. God bless them. I will definitely return. Meanwhile, I can't help thinking that Ellio seems like he would be a great guy to have a beer with.
