Your recipe Against Hunger Ibérica launches Tapas recipe competition for Action Against Hunger

Competition: 25 November – 8 January 2014

Final: 19 January 2015 | Tickets: £35

Authentic Spanish restaurant Ibérica is raising awareness and funds for humanitarian charity Action Against Hunger, by offering consumers the opportunity to have their very own tapas recipe included on Ibérica’s menu. The winner of the recipe competition will also jet off to Asturias, Spain, where they will visit Ibérica’s Executive Head Chef Nacho Manzano’s two Michelin starred Casa Marcial.

Calling All Budding Chefs

Foodies are invited to submit their own Spanish tapas recipe via Ibérica’s website. All entries must be received by 8 January 2015, with the five best recipes shortlisted and announced on 9 January 2015. The finalists will be invited to attend exclusive 1-on-1 masterclasses with Ibérica’s Group Head Chef César García, to develop their dishes and ensure that they can be rolled out in a restaurant kitchen. Competition entry page: http://www.ibericarestaurants.com/recipe-club/send-recipe/

Bellota Jamon slicing. An art form

The Tapas Showdown

On 19 January Ibérica Canary Wharf will host the competition finale, in which the 5 finalists will present their dishes to an impressive panel of judges: The London Evening Standard’s Comment Editor and wine critic Andrew Neather, Olive magazine Editor Christine Hayes, the founder of 3 Michelin starred DiverXO and casual dining StreetXO David Muñoz and Ibérica’s Executive Head Chef Nacho Manzano, who has two Michelin Stars for Casa Marcial and one Michelin Star for La Salgar, to his name.

Squid ink gnocchi with atlantic prawns, clams and samphire

Consumers will be invited to attend the event and be a part of the judging process, as they sample the final 5 dishes, along with a selection of Ibérica’s signature dishes, alongside the judges. There’ll also be a drinks reception and a raffle, with all money raised going to Action Against Hunger.

Tickets cost £35 and can be purchased at: https://endhunger.actionagainsthunger.org.uk/pages/2015-ibericas-recipe-against-hunger

1^st Prize: The winning dish will feature as a special on Ibérica’s menu from 15 February – 15 April 2015 and will be available at Ibérica Marylebone, Ibérica Farringdon and Ibérica Canary Wharf.

For the ultimate culinary experience, the winner will also fly to Asturias and visit Nacho Manzano’s two Michelin starred restaurant Cassia Marcial. They’ll also receive £300 to spend at Ibérica and the chance to record a professional video for Ibérica’s Recipe Club.

2^nd Prize: £300 to spend at Ibérica and a private meal for friends and family cooked by César García at the finalist’s home.

3^rd Prize: £300 to spend at Ibérica Restaurants.

 A Worthy Cause

One pound from the proceeds of each winning dish sold will be donated to help support Action Against Hunger’s lifesaving projects. Ibérica is proud to be partnering such a commendable cause, with the charity working to end world hunger.

 

www.ibericalondon.co.uk

http://www.actionagainsthunger.org.uk

Restaurant Review: Mele e Pere, Soho Trattoria

46 Brewer Street, London W1 (020 7096 2096). Meal for two, including wine and service, £120

Soho’s family run Meleepere on Brewer Street, is an eclectic Italian trattoria, which has a charming rustic character yet contemporary and inviting feel to the restaurant.

MeleePere, Brewer Street

Downstairs bar

Mele e Pere meaning “apples and pears” is an unusual name for a restaurant, but given today’s crowded West End restaurant market, it gives it some stand out. Upstairs is a trendy Italian café bar vibe, while in the basement restaurant there is a more vibrant café restaurant feel with marble topped bar and beautiful copper coned shaped sinks (worth a peek just for the loos).

Main Restaurant

The Head chef, is Andrea Mantovani, previously head chef at Arbutus, also in Soho. His dishes offer good Italian seasonal fare, with a few surprises along the way, which may appeal. The service and staff is good and they have adequate knowledge of the dishes and how the menu works, although less so on the accompanying wines.

The menu starts with a recommended 3-4 ‘sharing plates’ but they are certainly generous portions, so if you intend to also have a pasta dish I’d actually recommend 1-2 plates. We chose two dishes Vitello tonnato (£4.50) and a smoked tuna carpaccio, fennel and orange (£6.50). I was expecting to be wowed by the carpaccio and while it was good, it didn’t wow and I wasn’t fan of the veal dish, but this perhaps could be from a presentation position as the plates needed to be larger to show the food better.

Smoked tuna carpaccio, fennel and orange

Vitello tonnato

The drinks menu has a good selection of indigenous Italian wines and to accompany our sharing starter plates we were recommended a 2012 Est!Est!Est! Lazio white, glass (£4.50) which was new to the wine list, but slightly acidic. We fared better with the main course and accompanying red wine, a superb Iuli (Nino) Pinot Nero, carafe (£25.00) with a lovely depth of character and richness which went brilliantly with the Parmesan risotto with Emilia Romagna truffle,(£9.50, £18.00) Squid ink gnocchi with atlantic prawns, clams and samphire (£8, £15.50).

Iuli (Nino) Pinot Nero, Monferrato

Parmesan risotto with emilia romagna truffle

Squid ink gnocchi with atlantic prawns, clams and samphire

We stayed with the same wine to wash down  the main course of 28 day-aged surrey farm rib-eye steak with Barolo sauce (£19.00) and were not disappointed with the coupling on our  palates. For dessert I was hard pressed to find space but pushed forward and went for a scrumptious homemade raspberry tart with lemon sorbet (£6) and extra scoops of homemade pistachio and honey-comb ice-cream (£2.50). My companion complaining she couldn’t even look at the desserts suddenly came back to life when the dish arrived and elbowed me out of the way after one mouthful! Rude!! That’ll be two portions next time then.

Raspberry tart, and lemon sorbet

For a great working lunch or date night I thoroughly enjoyed Meleepere restaurant and would recommend as a great option when exposed to the plethora of Soho options. I’ll certainly be back soon for a plate of the risotto and scoop of honey-comb ice- cream delicious times.

http://www.meleepere.co.uk/