As the summer draws to a close and autumn leaves begin to fall we all start yearning for those long-gone balmy days. Don’t despair, there are ways to capture that sunshine feeling without leaving the country – even when summertime has gone. Like visiting somewhere that evokes the warmth and tapas flavours of Spain. Today we’re heading to Victoria to the shiny new Zig Zag building, one of many glittering new high rises along Victoria Street to Iberica. It’s one of four restaurants in the group in London and there’s also one in Leeds.
Spanish architect Lazaro Rosa Violan has designed each restaurant to transport you straight to Spain as you walk through the door with their beautiful traditional ceramics, tiled floors and warm wood furniture and finishes. The Victoria branch is set over two floors with a downstairs bar and terrace and stylish upstairs dining room. As we’re led up the stairs to our table, that Spanish felicidad soon washes over us.
Under the guidance of Michelin-starred Chef Director Nacho Manzano, the menu offers a wide range of tapas as well as a section dedicated to Valencian-style rices. Manzano grew up in the tiny village of La Salgar in the northern Asturias mountains where he learnt to cook with his grandmother and mother. So there’s no doubt he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Choices include classic tapas like tortilla, patatas bravas, padron peppers, croquetas, gambas al ajillo, calamares fritas – all the favourites are covered. There’s also a mouth-watering range of contemporary dishes for the more adventurous including gazpacho salad, lamb sweetbreads, the irresistible secreto iberica and hake tempura. For those with a bigger appetite there’s a selection of mains to share like milk-fed lamb leg, seafood paella, black rice and Galician rib of beef. The menu evolves with the seasons offering regular specials, and there’s a fabulous wine list showcasing the excellence of the Spanish wine industry.
A visit to Iberica will warm your heart and belly with its fabulous Spanish welcome and the tastiest of food and wine. Who needs summer sunshine?
Branches of Iberica can be found at Victoria, Canary Wharf, Farringdon Marylebone and Leeds.
Words by Sandy Cadiz-Smith
ibericarestaurants.com
