Top Spanish TV chef Omar Allibhoy is bringing a taste of the real Spain to Sheffield this March with the opening of Tapas Revolution in Meadowhall. Dubbed the ‘Antonio Banderas of cooking’ by Gordon Ramsay, he’s a man on a mission to bring the joy of authentic tapas food to the UK.
Madrid born Omar has cooked for a whole host of celebrities diners, including Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, Tom Hanks and Bill Nighy. Alongside his four critically acclaimed tapas bars, Omar also wrote the fastest selling Spanish cookbook of 2013 called Tapas Revolution and has made numerous TV appearances including Masterchef, The One Show, Sunday Brunch and This Morning, all in aid of revolutionising the Spanish food scene in the UK – Sheffield is his next stop.
Omar’s cooking has received rave reviews from food critics too, with Tom Parker Bowles from The Mail on Sunday commenting: “Tapas Revolution is a step above… if Omar can replicate, nationwide, what he’s doing there’s real hope… with his talent, passion and dedication the revolution’s in good hands.” The Daily Telegraph also loved the authentic tapas – “Iberico ham, as gorgeously sweet, melty and nutty as it should be, and pan con tomate – crunchy toast covered with good tomato, garlic and olive oil.” Whilst The Guardian said: “Omar Allibhoy has taken on the task of opening a proper, serious tapas bar. I can’t recommend Tapas Revolution enough. It’s open all day, and is ideal for real tapas-type eating.”
Meadowhall, one of England’s biggest shopping and dining destinations, will be the next site for Omar Allibhoy’s fifth all-day, contemporary tapas bar concept. Tapas Revolution Meadowhall will be Omar’s personal interpretation of the lively and bustling tapas bars in his hometown of Madrid, using only the finest Iberian ingredients sourced from small Artisan producers across Spain, with dishes all freshly prepared in-house by a team of Spanish chefs.
The menu will bring a slice of Spain to Sheffield and is inspired by Omar’s family recipes, Spain’s rich regional cuisine and the culinary culture of sharing, socialising and eating. Featuring a copper-topped bar, open kitchen, comfortable burnt orange leather banquettes and marble tables, the new Sheffield tapas bar wouldn’t look out of place on the busy streets of Madrid, Barcelona and Seville.
Open all day, the menu will guide diners on a culinary adventure across Spain, from breakfast in Barcelona to dinner in Seville. The menu is simply divided into five sections; El Picoteo (nibbles), Jamón Y Queso (ham), Las Verduras (vegetables), Los Pescados (fish) and Las Carnes (meats). The full tapas menu offers a large variety of small plates, cooked to perfection, complemented by the best Spain has to offer in terms of charcuterie, including their famous Jamón Iberico, hand-carved to order by a skilled Maestro Jamonero. Expect all the classics, such as tortilla, croquetas de jamon, calamares, chorizo cooked in Asturian cider, freshly-made Churros alongside some surprises of Omar’s own creation.
For those who just want to stop for a quick drink, there will be a selection of Spanish craft beers, wine from a number of small Spanish producers and array of soft drinks. Wine will be served in Catalonian style with a porrón – a traditional wine glass pitcher with a long spout that’s perfect for sharing and is used to bring extra air into each sip. Honouring Spain’s position as the biggest consumer of Gin and Tonics in Europe, Tapas Revolution will serve a range of ‘Gintonics’ as well as the only exclusively Spanish Gin menu in the country.
Omar said: “Tapas Revolution in Meadowhall is my version of the tapas bars back home in Spain, that act as a social hub for the community as well as providing delicious traditional food. Sheffield has a great food scene that’s growing and is gaining a really positive reputation. I wanted to get involved in the buzz happening there and bring a real taste of Spain to the North of England.”
Omar’s Sheffield opening continues the Spanish food mission that he and his team began with the critically acclaimed Tapas Revolution Westfield London (Shepherd’s Bush), Tapas Revolution Bluewater (Kent), Tapas Revolution on Bethnal Green Road (Shoreditch) and Tapas Revolution Grand Central (Birmingham).
The new Tapas Revolution in Meadowhall, Sheffield opens in March 2016.
Opening hours will be Monday – Friday 10am to 9pm, Saturday 9am – 8pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm
Twitter: @tapasrevsheff
Facebook: Tapas Revolution
Instagram: tapasrevolution
