Something we seem to be getting pretty good at in Manchester is tapas.
Yes, some of that some from chain brands, some even comes from what some would say is the wrong side of the Pennines from the divine El Gato (I would disagree being of Yorkshire heritage, with a Manchester born husband), but the number of restaurants is growing.
As someone who loves to nibble and pick at dishes (mum always said ‘little pickers have bigger knickers’), I don’t see this as a bad thing. It means that yes, the competition has grown, but also the quality has risen, and the flavours are getting a little bit more exploratory. And those that aren’t quite so good, will have to up their game.
Iberica is one of the newest on the scene, opening just over 12 months ago, I was lucky enough to visit recently, where a boozy gin filled afternoon headed into a food filled evening.
However, as always, seasons change and menus change, and sensitive to the seasons, Iberica has already launched a range of new dishes for you to sample. Introduced to us by Head Chef Cesar Garcia we were to be taken on a whirlwind tour of the new dishes.
We began, as these things do, at the beginning. A trio of hams – slivers of porky goodness, from a partially acorn fed, to a full Iberico fed pork and the divine Presa’ (Lomito de Bellota) from the pork shoulder which has a deeper red and marbled appearance and more meaty texture.
This was served with their toasted tomato bread – something for me that was a revelation the first time I tried it, and continues to be. I don’t like fresh tomatoes. It’s a texture thing. I need them cooked into oblivion. Except when I come here.
This toasted tomato bread I can eat slice after slice of. I’ve not yet figured out what black magic they use, but it works.
In a bold step away from the menu, we were also treated to a dish by Quique Dacosta, from MercatBar in Valencia. This was recently used to showcase Spanish food in London and it was utterly stunning. Fresh, fruity, sweet, earthy, it featured raspberries, beetroot, and edible flowers.
Stunning.
We moved back a little into familiar territory with a menu staple. The most elegant cheese on toast you’ll experience features a slice of rye bread, topped with onion confit, Manchego and crisp asparagus before being grilled and drizzled with truffle oil. It’s one of the most deliciously addictive dishes on the menu and we were all pleased to see it remain.
It was swiftly followed by another staple, their croquettes. Serrano ham in a Bechamel sauce, coated and deep fried into creamy, buttery, gorgeousness. These too are staying.
A new addition is the cauliflower tempura. Coated, deep fried, served with a creamy sauce and topped with a slice of crisp cauliflower – the texture cuts through the creaminess of the dish and the batter.
One of the more intriguing dishes was the fresh hake with hollandaise sauce and lettuce water – which sounds a little wishy washy, but goes to prove that lettuce isn’t just for salad – and despite somewhat sludgy colour, added a creamy freshness to the Hollandaise and the perfectly cooked hake.
My personal favourite featured a noodle I first came across over in Hoylake, fideua. Again, this had seafood theme, served with fresh prawns, but still with the rich stock base. I’m so pleased to have this dish much closer to home, much as I love an excuse to visit The Nook!
Keeping with the seafood theme, the octopus was stunning. A Gallician style dish with softly cooked potatoes and buttery sauce made with pimento de la vera was utterly delicious and almost saw a fight at the table over the dish. Almost.
And the seafood theme continued further with sea trout with almond puree, pickled cauliflower and smoked olive oil. As with the hake, the protein released from the fish when cooking is used to help thicken the sauce and gives it a great depth of flavour – a technique I may be, er, appropriating for use at home.
Our final savoury dish was a whopper, and definitely one for the meat lovers. Gloria Cachopo – fried beef and Iberico pork patty filled with Asturian cheeses and mushrooms. As you’d expect it was heavy, creamy and rich with flavour – enough to push me to belt loosening. If I’d worn a belt. Thank god for elastic.
Of course we weren’t done. Dessert awaited. A trio of lovelies. From a proper Spanish rice pudding with creme brulee style caramelised sugar top, to the Gloria cheese cake with Parmesan shavings – which I still have issue with I’m afraid, despite the smaller amount of sorbet.
My personal favourite, however was our final dish before even my elasticated waistband gave way. Crisp churros.
Done properly – not overly doughy, or greasy, just crisp hot and sweet. I forwent the chocolate sauce, which really would have pushed me over the edge, but these, dusted in sugar, were just enough. Just one before home.
Overall, the new additions are fabulous – and I’m relieved to see favourites still staying on the menu.
But there’s one last thing before I go.
Iberica, I’m very fond of you. But there’s one tiny issue. And it has to do with the little girls room. Whilst I love a mirror to check my lipstick hasn’t smeared onto my teeth (or indeed all over my face at some point), there is a limit to how much I wish to see. And this might be a tad too much.
I hasten to add that I’m fully clothed in the below image. But imagine you are in this room, and you are not.
I may be visiting you again soon. But I might be crossing my legs for the evening.
With thanks to Iberica for the invitation, Cesar and the staff for putting up with a bunch of rowdy bloggers, and the rest of the bloggers for their company. The food and drink was all at the invitation of Iberica. And bloody good it was too. But please. The loos.