EL Gato Negro is not unlike the Sex Pistols at the Lesser Free Trade Hall. Thousands claimed to have attended that gig, which inspired a Manchester generation to form the likes of Joy Division, The Fall, The Buzzcocks and The Smiths, but the truth is only a punky handful were actually there.
Similarly how many of those hailing the arrival in King Street of Simon Shaw’s take on Spanish tapas as the big food event of 2016 actually made it to the restaurant’s original incarnation up in the Yorkshire Pennine hamlet of Ripponden?
Taste of Manchester, which did, is just happy to see the reborn ‘Black Cat’ officially launching on Monday, February 22. It’s a big expansion of the original, much-lauded project in a cramped pub.
Now they’ve got three floors to play with – from a casual drinking and dining space at street level featuring a bar and charcuterie/cheese counter to a first floor catering for longer dining experiences. Here, according to the launch spiel “a live charcoal Josper oven will command its own section of the menu, featuring some of Simon Shaw’s favourite dishes, such asonglet steak with patatas a lo pobre and whole rack of baby pork ribs with Pedro Ximénez glaze.” Similarly there’s an open finishing kitchen “where diners will experience the theatre and thrill of tapas in a Spanish style.”
Finally on the top off floor under a retractable roof there’s a dedicated cocktail bar, headed up by Garry Foy (formerly of Elixir and Panacea) and serving its own Spanish-inspired menu, including some playful takes on classics. The drinks offering will feature both premium local produce and a select range of Spanish wines and sherry.
Chef patron and founder Shaw said of the restaurant’s offering: “Tapas is more than small plates; it’s a mode of dining that is both refined and relaxed, savouring produce and flavours we know and love, as well as unearthing new favourites. With El Gato Negro Manchester, we explore a menu of new and old Spanish flavours and techniques alongside some of the country’s best wines and a new bar offering in a heritage city venue.
“We’ve taken care to make this a venue that will appeal to those looking to drop by for half an hour over a selection of tapas and a glass of wine or sherry, as much as it will for those taking time to enjoy a bigger occasion. We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors.”
Originally from Yorkshire, Simon rapidly worked his way through the ranks at some of the county’s finest establishments before becoming the first Head Chef at Harvey Nichols’ restaurant in Leeds. Later he was Head Chef at their flagship Knightsbridge store. During this time Simon he visited Catalonia and the Basque Country, falling in love with the diversity and excitement of modern Spanish cuisine and in 2005 Simon returned north to open El Gato Negro in Ripponden, which held a Michelin Bib Gourmand and won best local Spanish restaurant on Gordon Ramsay’s F Word
In advance of the official opening, El Gato is offering a soft launch promotion on the 19th, 20th and 21st of February. Register your interest by signing up to the newsletter via their website. Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis and these days will be reservation only.
El Gato Negro, 52 King Street, Manchester. www.elgatonegrotapas.com
