By Neil Sowerby
IT”S not been unlike awaiting the Spanish Armada. El Gato Negro’s arrival is still a way over the horizon. The acclaimed tapas restaurant will only complete its voyage from Ripponden to the long-empty Brasserie Blanc site in Chapel Walks in the summer.
Meanwhile, La Bandera has moored up in the former Harpers premises on Ridgefeld with minimum fuss but firm word of mouth acclaim and now finally there’s a definite launch date for upmarket chain Ibérica’s first outlet outside London. On Wednesday, March 4, it will unleash some powerful Iberian flavours in what was All Saints store in Spinningfields.
Here is a preview of the fabulously fitted-out space, which doesn’t suffer in comparison with the capital’s most spectacular Iberica in Canary Wharf, which provided one of my most memorable wine-food matching moments of 2014.
Like all the restaurants in the portfolio – Marylebone, Farringdon, Canary Wharf and the nearby La Terazza – Ibérica Spinningfields fuses traditional elements, such as mantón de Manila (Spanish silk shawls), with a contemporary glass façade.
Ibérica’s Executive Head Chef, Nacho Manzano has an impressive three Michelin stars to his name; two for his celebrated restaurant Casa Marcial and a further star for La Salgar. He’s not exporting that level of culinary wizardry, of course but he has developed an à la carte menu offering rare insights into authentic Spanish gastronomy.
Alongside the established menu of tapas, customers will be able to choose from a selection of larger dishes, such as traditionally made paella and Asturian cachopo made with fried beef, Ibérico pork and Asturian cheeses. As I found at Canary Wharf, they are meticulous about sourcing the finest produce.
In addition to its restaurant, Ibérica Spinningfields will also have an in-house delicatessen selling a selection of that produce, including a collection of over 20 different olive oils, preserved fish and vegetables, turrones (traditional Iberian sweets) and one of the largest selections of Spanish cheese and cured meats available in the UK.
Iberica’s extensive wine list is an expedition into fascinating grape territories beyond the norm of Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Albarino (though all of these feature). The company’s wine guru Fernando Gonzalez told me there is no lower price Rioja listed because they wish to steer customers to match lesser known regional varietals to their food menu. For recommendations just ask any member of the waiting staff, who are all familiar with the range, and to discover more check out one of the regular wine masterclasses planned.
Here is what’s on the menu in London.
Iberica, The Avenue, Manchester M3 3HF. http://www.ibericarestaurants.com