Sourcing the Skinny on BC’s Restaurant Industry
July 28, 2007 at 12:54 am
· Filed under Openings & Closings
I had the pleasure of dining with a couple of young Argentinian restaurateurs the other night. Chef Simon Ibanez (just 28, from Buenos Aires), his wine-growing partner Javier Russo (from Mendoza), and Russo’s wife Nora (a Canuck straight out of Shaughnessey) are opening a new 45 seat modern Spanish tapas bar simply called “Spanish” in a killer space in Gastown not far from So.cial at Le Magasin (not allowed to say exactly where yet).
This won’t be a West Coast fusion japa-tapas small plates kind of joint. Their goal is old school Spanish tapas brought to the 21st century. I’ve seen the drawings and listened to them talk about the concept. Imagine Latin-themed steel, stone, and glass swank but with a food-first focus emphasizing strong flavours and a fast, social atmosphere (I imagine it will be loud). Think marinated (not brined) sardine with Andalusian sea salt ($1) and “pata negra”-style ham on the hoof selling at the bar for $1 a slice and cut with a real Navaja knife). Like Salt, there will be no kitchen per se, only a washing up area behind the U-shaped 25 seat dining bar. The other twenty seats are split into two long community tables flanking the bar on both sides. No spirits or beer. Just a constantly changing list of 20 wines (15 red and 5 white) available in the 1oz pour for sampling up to a bottle (Nora is a sommelier and wine-maker, and was until 2003 one of Toronto’s top wine reps). Word is a well-pedigreed F&B legend recently out of work is currently being wooed to run the FOH (take the freakin’ job, dude).
Opening Day is set ambitiously for mid-October, 2007, and there was much rejoicing.
Update: they have a website in the works.
Permalink
Sounds great. Just what this city needs and another short walk to my home. THANK YOU!
Paul wrote @ July 28, 2007 at 10:44 am
Gastown….again?! D’oh!! Doesn’t anybody want to open a new restaurant in East Van? :-)
degan wrote @ July 28, 2007 at 6:58 pm
nice! I can’t wait!
Is it going into the Richard Kidd space? I heard they are vacating - and that space would make a great restaurant location.
Richard Kidd space? I l’ve always said that should have been a restaurant! Let’s hope so.
Sub wrote @ July 29, 2007 at 1:10 am
Sounds excellent!
The Richard Kidd space is large enough to be a 180 seat operation. Besides I’m fairly certain that an establishment that Vancouver knows & loves is reinventing itself as a second location, in the Kidd space.
“Spanish” is most likely moving into a space on Cordova Street, beside the antique store, opposite “The Block”
If that trio, deliver “Spanish” as it has been reported, it will surely kick ass.
where is the kidd space?
badpesto wrote @ July 29, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Had some drinks with Chef Simon Ibanez and some of his crew last night. Insanely passionate and excited about his opening but hilariously secretive about location and menu “surprises” to shock Vancouver. Fresh forward thinking and a funny guy to boot.
Simon wrote @ July 29, 2007 at 4:27 pm
No shocking at Spanish. My food is my grandfathers food. Thank you for the wine.
I thnking its the old Game Shop location on Water Street or possibly the old tatoo shop near the water Street Cafe? Come on tell us?
It’s pre-signature. I know nothing.
Boneta wrote @ July 30, 2007 at 4:54 am
Win for us all down here
Love the owners; can’t wait for the open.
Weather Permitting
xoxo
Boneta
We cannot wait. I’m smuggling back some ham pre-opening and one of those wicked knifes as well. Is it located on ground or above ground level? let us know please!
HTML-Tags:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
