JOSÉ PIZARRO
Originally from Talaván, a small town in Cáceres, José has now lived in London for over 19 years and is often described as the Godfather of Spanish cooking in the UK. José spent his early years here working at some of London’s most prestigious Spanish restaurants
In 2011, José opened his first solo venture, José Tapas Bar on Bermondsey Street. José Tapas Bar is a small and cosy venue, inspired by the bustling tapas bars of Barcelona. José has since gone on to open two further restaurants in the Capital: Pizarro, just a few yards from José Tapas, and José Pizarro at Broadgate Circle.
José believes that tapas is for all, and that home cooks don’t have to be scared off by the idea of cooking lots of dishes – it’s all in the prep & keeping it simple. This mantra of simplicity along with Jose’s charm, enthusiasm and passion for Spanish food has led to José appearing on many of our favourite foodie TV programmes.
In 2014, José was voted one of ‘100 Españoles’ – a hugely prestigious award which showcases the top 100 Spaniards around the world, based on how they have brought their talents to the masses and how they have shown their Spanish pride and love of the country through their work. José loves nothing more than flying the flag for his homeland, so this award was particularly close to his heart.