City chef wins La Tasca 'Tapa Chef of the Year'

Miguel Castano, head chef at La Tasca Spanish restaurant and bar in Broadgate, London has won the national Tapa Chef of the Year Award 2008.

The competition, open to all chefs across the 87 strong Spanish restaurant group, was held this week in Birmingham.

Nine finalists from each regional area took part in the cook-off preparing their dishes for the five judges; La Tasca's newly appointed Managing Director, Peter Murdoch, Bay Restaurant Group's Developmental Chef, Simon Blunt, Food Operations, Frances Sanchez and Andy Barker and Simon Jerrome from Matthew Clark Wines.

The winning dish, "Ensalada de Rape Gaudi" (pan fried monkfish on a warm aubergine, tomato, red pepper and rocket salad) will join La Tasca's Winter menu which launches week commencing 10 November 2008.

Second and third places were awarded to Andrew Krajewski of Victoria, London and Roberto Diaz of Liverpool. Andrew's dish, "Pulpito rellenos con paella y chorizo" is a delicious combination of fried baby squid tubes stuffed with paella and chorizo and served with garlic mayonnaise and lambs lettuce. Roberto's dish, "Montado de Gambas", toasted breas, topped with prawns ans serano ham in a creamy wine and garlic sauce.

Peter Murdoch, Managing Director of La Tasca said of the awards: "Congratulations to Miguel for winning the first ever La Tasca Tapa Chef of the Year Award. There were some truly innovative dishes created for the competition which also demonstrated what a breadth of talented chefs there are within the group. Miguel's monkfish salad is simple yet delicious and is perfect for our menu."

Miguel Castano, head chef at La Tasca Broadgate and La Tasca's Tapa chef of the Year 2008, said: "It's a honour to receive the award. I'm passionate about creating and cooking great food so it'll be fantastic to see my own dish on the menu across all of our restaurants."

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