True Andalucian Tradition To Tapas And Sherry

Just drop by and revel in the good things in life : tapas, sun and sherry.  At least, that’s what we found when we went to Capote Y Toros Ham and Sherry wine bar in the Old Brompton Road.  Don’t leave it too late in twilight to find out though as reservations are strictly not taken.

“Huge hams hang from the bar,  cut whilst you wait” 

Huge hams hang from the bar, cut whilst you wait, whilst you choose an aged old, light and dry, or rich, dark and intoxicating sherry as your favoured tipple for your tapas.

There is no place in London where I have chosen from a list of over 100 speciality sherries, from  light to dark, and rich to smooth. So it’s not difficult to see why Capote Y Toros is capable of  boasting it has the World’s most extensive sherry list. Off the back of the success of his other ventures in the Cambio de Tercio Group, Abel Lusa has brought something uniquely authentic to this cosmopolitan stretch of the Brompton Road.  With no shortage of restaurants and chic bars surrounding it, the vibrancy of Andalucian culture has been recreated to give you a true taste of Spain in trendy Earl’s Court.

And, because you can sip whilst you pick – this really is the perfect way to do it.   Since there is an intensity to sherry, in its most potent form- when you get a slight burn from the alcohol at the back of the throat, it offsets the spicy bites that tapas typify. Whether a dry Fino or a sweet Pedro Ximenez is to your taste, the range covers a wide spectrum. Ranging from the light and lingeringly dry, to the deep, rich potent flavours of speciality sherry that has been aged for 15 years in oak caskets. For tapas, we recommend you try the potato croquettes with a creamy béchamel and ham filling, marinaded sardines, spicy meatballs and of course the fine range of charcuterie from Spain’s most revered producer Sanchez Romero Carvajal.  The ham just falls off the bone in juicy slithers.

An ideal place to go with friends, make new friends and rekindle old acquaintances, because it’s a sociable backdrop.  The bar makes for striking up new conversations, but if you just want to stay in your company, then there are wooden benches designed for sharing tapas whilst you talk.  With wines also to choose from, you can still partake in tapas, with a glass of rioja or whatever is to your palate as the most expensive bottle comes in at £2000.

The tradition of the bullfight is exhonerated by prints of famous conquestadors, with the walls splashed in the flaming reds and pinks of the sport.  So come down and be part of the passion.

Capote Y Toros
163 Old Brompton Road,
London SW5 OLJ
http://www.cambiodetercio.co.uk

Sandrine Lester