Christmas in Bloomsbury: Ring the Changes with a Feast from Spain

Christmas lunch may seem a long way off yet it's likely that most of us will be tired of traditional turkey and trimmings by the time the big day arrives.

So maybe delicious homemade tapas such as Gambas Rojo (grilled red prawns marinated with peppers, chilli &bay) washed down with a fresh rioja is a tempting alternative Christmas lunch in the run up to December 25th?

For those in the know, there is a foodie paradise in the heart of fashionable Bloomsbury, where celebrated Chef Jake Hodges presides over the gastronomic hotspot, Cigala. The son of the director of iconic gangster film Get Carter, Hodges has spent the last 16 years popularising the food of the country we Brits love so much and in so doing has garnered numerous plaudits and accolades along the way for his authentic Spanish cuisine.

Hodges was previously head chef at the River Café and The French House before becoming a co-founder of Moro. Since then, Hodges has swapped the North African influences that earned him fame to focus on regional and national Spanish dishes noted for their integrity and true Iberian flavour.

Having spent many years living in Spain, Hispanophile Hodges, once described as ‘an iconoclast who has singlehandedly made paella credible again,' takes pride in his knowledge of the country, its customs and most importantly its food, using products sourced directly from Spain that cannot be found in London.

His Christmas menu this year includes divine Spanish favourites such as Caldereta de Pescado, monkfish served with clams and prawns and a warming Olla Gitano stew of chickpea, parsnip, carrot, pumpkin, pear and saffron, thickened with almonds.

For the diehard carnivores, there is a juicy steak or even Iberican pork with aubergines, pinenuts and honey which can be savoured with a glass of ice-cold Fino sherry. The cellar at Cigala is exceptional, featuring a lovingly curated range of wines.

As the winter nights draw in and office party season is nearly upon us, Cigala's function room will be booked solid well into the New Year. The taste of Spain it seems is too delicious to resist, particularly at Christmas!

For more information please contact Melanie Faldo atsocal.uk@gmail.com