Omar Allibhoy plans to take tapas bars across UK
Young Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy will next week launch a tapas bar in London’s Westfield shopping centre, which he plans to be the first in a series of venues to open throughout the UK.
The 26 year-old chef, who trained with El Bulli’s Ferran Adria, hopes his Tapas Revolution concept will advance his wider campaign to bring Spanish cuisine to British consumers.
The first venue will be located at the mezzanine level of the Westfield shopping centre, which is one of the largest in Europe.
With Madrid-style tapas sold all day, customers will have the option to choose from a variety of options for different times of day, for example churros con chocolate, Jamon, tapas y vinos, and bocadillo.
Spain in Britain
“My Tapas Revolution bars will be fun and very Spanish - only without the siestas,” said Omar. “In Spain, food is a way of life – both of which are best shared with other people.”
"Everything at Tapas Revolution will be as authentic as if you were back home in Spain.”
Allibhoy, who was previously the head chef at London's El Pirata Detapas, which featured in Gordon Ramsay's Best Restaurants, has embarked on a wider mission to bring Spanish cuisine to the British.
As part of this, last July he set out on a 900-mile ‘T-shaped’ motorbike journey, together with a tent, sleeping bag and a range of ingredients.
Starting in Liverpool and heading east towards Grimsby before doubling back and making his way down to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, he stopped along the way to introduce local people to tapas.
His new Tapas Revolution bar, which was designed by DesignLSM, includes a 5O-metre pewter bar with open ham cellar. This will be surrounded by 43 high stools, allowing customers to watch the action. Iberian products will be displayed in the bar-top counter in front of the guests.
