Spanish restaurant and cultural centre, Iberica (195 Great Portland Street, W1W 5PS), has recently launched a new mini “desgustacion” menu available Monday through Saturday from noon to 3pm. Served only at the bar (and a long, lovely bar at that), the “Expressions” menu is an attractive arrangement of hot and cold (and deliciously innovative) tapas served with a crisp cold glass of Tio Pepe. At £16 and promised to be under your chin within 10 to 15 minutes of ordering, it's the best culinary representation in London of what's gorgeous and current (without being all molecular and chi-chi) about modern Spanish cooking.
Chef Santiago Guerrero plans to keep his tasty “Expressions” coming for the long term, but the menu is expected to change monthly to reflect seasonality and to ensure the best ingredients are used. Certainly, upcoming renditions of this at-the-bar lunch will please, but rushing over to Iberica to try this month's lunch would be wise. Among the eight excellent pinchos served as part of the “Expressions” menu, the chorizo lollypop (think gourmet corndog) visually and gastronomically intrigues while the ideal Iberica ham croquettes and perfected grilled Iberica pork loin “Presa” with mojo rojo delights to no end. A lovely setting, service with a warm, Spanish smile and flavours to savour yield a quick yet elegant lunch that's a winner! Visit www.ibericalondon.com for more information about this stylish Spanish eatery.
Photography by Chris Osburn
