As Autumn hits London, Brindisa is cheering up the cold, grey mornings with a slice of Spanish sunshine at Tapas Brindisa Soho. Centred around ‘tostas’, or ‘tostados’, a traditional Spanish breakfast that’s a staple morning ritual across households in Spain, Brindisa takes the opportunity to showcase its amazing ingredients it has pioneered over the last 30 years atop a “tosta”.
Founder Monika Linton and Head Chef Josep Carbonell have created six seasonal ‘tostas’ dishes that reflect the simplicity of Spanish cooking. The Mahon y Sobrasada (tangy, pimenton rind-washed cheese with spicy and soft island sausage, a cousin to nduja) pays homage to the Spanish isle of Menorca, home of the port of Mahon and its cheese, while the Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (Ibérico ham and tomato) showcases the best of Brindisa’s speciality ham. Also on the menu is the humus y grenada (humus, pomegrate, pickled radish and nuts), the Bauma y Melocotón (‘La Bauma’ goat’s curd & peach) and the Aguacate y Huevo (avocado, sweetcorn and poached egg) for a Spanish take on a modern breakfast favourite. And if you’re missing a taste of the sea in the morning, the Cangrejo y Huevo (Cornish crab & poached egg) is the classic ‘fisherman’s breakfast’.
The six Tostadas are complemented by the drinks menu, a typical Spanish selection of freshly-squeezed orange juice and coffees. These simple flavours are complemented by Brindisa’s cream-topped Hot Chocolate, and a ‘Virgin Mary’, which adds a twist to the traditional tomato juice cocktail with rich, aged PX sherry vinegar.
“Toast is a universal breakfast but travelling round Spain you find will find some many exciting ingredients on top of your toast – tomato garlic and olive oil, kippers, omelette, cured meats of all types, fresh and cured cheeses and fruit of many varieties,” says Monika Linton, founder of Brindisa. “We wanted to bring these together for a colourful, wholesome breakfast in Soho! One of my all-time favourites is Iberico ham on tomato bread, it could not be simpler, and yet is utterly delicious!”