Spain in Wales.
Bar 44 in Cardiff is just around the corner from its siblings, Asador 44 and Parador 44. They are a wonderful Spanish restaurant and a smart hotel above. I have not visited Bar 44, but this sumptuous Spanish cookbook, Bar 44 Tapas y Copas, attests to the high quality achieved by the whole chain.
Bar 44 Tapas y Copas is one of the few recipe books to celebrate Spanish food and drink in equal measure. It includes over one hundred recipes, which elevate traditional Spanish food and drink to exciting new heights. All of them have been tried and tested in the five busy Bar 44 restaurants – five thousand diners a week, a quarter of a million a year.
The authors of Bar 44 Tapas y Copas are brothers Owen and Tom Morgan, and they are passionate about modern Spanish food, drink and culture and spreading the word across the UK. The tempting recipes are paired with beautiful colour photography which will encourage even the timid cook into the kitchen.
Easily available ingredients
This gift-quality tome is a culinary travelogue. It will remind one of vacations in Spain with warm sun and hospitality and, if one has chosen carefully, memorable meals. Bar 44 Tapas y Copas offers recipes using easily available ingredients. Everything one needs can be found in local supermarkets or online. No need for cheffy equipment either. The dishes have suggestions for drink pairings so it’s an ideal book for those wanting to throw an authentic Spanish dinner party.
I have a host of pick-of-the-book recipes and here are a few of my favourites. Lamb Shoulder Empanada includes anchovies, and it has a mint sauce alongside – smart dinner party fare. Spiced Cauliflower with Romesco sauce will please vegetarians. Oxtail-Stuffed Peppers work for a family meal but also as a more formal meal with some interesting sides. Valencia Orange Cake has my name on it, but to be honest I could graze this whole book. The Copas chapter is all about exciting cocktails, the sort that impress your friends. There is plenty of information on both iconic sherry and increasingly popular Spanish wines.
It’s still the summer but already Bar 44 Tapas y Copas is heading the Mostly Food & Cocktails 2022 Cookbook of the Year!
Bar 44 Tapas y Copas
Authors: Owen and Tom Morgan
Published by: Seren
Price: £25.00
ISBN-13 : 978-1781726396