Spanish TV chef, Omar Allibhoy is a man on a mission to bring authentic tapas to the UK and Windsor is his latest target. Dubbed the ‘Antonio Banderas of cooking’ by Gordon Ramsay, Omar will be bringing a taste of Spain to royal Windsor with his seventh tapas bar and first standalone site, opening on Thames Street, on Tuesday 16th October.
The new home for Omar’s all day, contemporary tapas bar will be the only Spanish restaurant in the heart of Windsor; opposite the castle it will be the perfect location to enjoy tapas y vino with views of the Queen’s favourite weekend home.
Omar’s latest opening will take inspiration from his family’s recipes that he grew up with and Spain’s culinary culture of sharing, socialising and eating, bringing Spanish traditions to one of England’s most historic and famous towns. The menu will offer dishes cooked using the finest ingredients sourced from small artisan producers in Spain, all freshly prepared.
Omar says: “We’re really excited to open a tapas bar in Windsor. I come from the Old Castile – a historic region of Spain so have always felt at home in Windsor and visited many times since moving to England 13 years ago. Tapas Revolution is based on the lively and bustling tapas bars in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, and I’m excited to bring my version to Windsor. Tapas is more than food, it’s part of our everyday culture: food and life are always best shared. I’m so excited to share Spanish heritage with such an iconic English town.”
Madrid born Omar has already had the regal honour of cooking for Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, alongside a whole host of celebrity diners including Penelope Cruz, Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, Tom Hanks and Bill Nighy. Alongside his seven tapas bars, Omar has written two cookbooks ‘Tapas Revolution’ and ‘Spanish Made Simple’ and made numerous TV appearances including Saturday Kitchen, Masterchef, James Martin’s Saturday Morning, The One Show, Sunday Brunch and This Morning.
Tapas Revolution will be open all day, just like typical Spanish tapas bars; the menu guides diners on a culinary adventure across Spain, from breakfast in Barcelona to dinner in Seville. The menu is simply divided into fish, meat and vegetable sections, complemented with the best Spain has to offer in terms of charcuterie and their famous Jamon 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 and freshly-made Churros.
For those who just want to stop for a quick drink, Tapas Revolution has collaborated with the award winning Cocktail Trading Co to create a cocktail menu of classics with a Spanish twist. Guests will be able to enjoy a menu of typically Spanish Gin Tonics, served in the traditional Copa de Balón (balloon glass), and a selection of Spanish craft beers, including Estrella Galicia 1906. A short wine list from a number of small Spanish producers will be on offer, wine will be served 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.