Here's what we got. Top row - prawns, chorizo, pan con tomate. Bottom - ham, presa and pisto. Why yes, the sherry WAS very welcome.
So, José Pizarro is delivering?
He is indeed. His hugely popular tapas restaurant in Bermondsey may not be serving tapas itself, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to have a José experience at home. He's delivering a selection of tapas from the restaurant, all sealed and ready for just a few minutes of finishing off at home.
How easy is this "finishing off"?
It's incredibly simple. The tapas on offer needs something like 5 minutes in a pot of boiling water (i.e. boil in the bag finishing), in the oven or in the pan. It's very, very easy, but if you have any qualms about getting it just right, then José himself is here to help.
Each dish's bag comes with a QR barcode (you can see it on the bags above on the top left). Just scan that with your phone and you're led to a YouTube video of José telling you how to prepare that particular dish. These are excellent and truly add to the process. Once you've watched one of these, you'll make sure you watch them for every dish. Here's an example:
By the end of these, you'll be saying to him "I am being careful with the staples,José!" They're perfect, simple primers to each dish and are all available on the chef's YouTube channel.
But what about the tapas themselves?
There's quite a large selection, featuring some of the best from his tapas bar. Here's what we had.
Classic - and tremendously garlicky (in a very good way) Pan Con Tomate (£5.50).
Carabineros al ajillo (prawns in garlic) - perfectly cooked red prawns (£16).
Pisto - pair this with some toasted sourdough and it's almost a meal in its own right (£5).
Chorizo al vino. Best finished in a pan, we think, as this reduces the sauce down perfectly (you can use the water bath if you want, though - £7).
The main event, Jose's Presa Iberica. This just needs four minutes in a high-heat oven to finish off and is outstanding - cooked to perfection with a little bit of pink on the inside. Just wonderful (£16.50).
What else is on the menu?
The above is just a taster - there's a lot more that looks well worth ordering. Josés tortilla and croquetas look like a must, we've heard good things about the anchovies and the octopus with parsnip puree also sounds excellent. There's enough on the menu for a huge feast.
How about vegetarians?
Including the vegan pisto dish and the pan con tomate above, there are a few more options, including the tortilla, butter beans and pumpkin stew and marinated olives.
Overall thoughts
We absolutely loved everything we had delivered from Jose and feel we can highly recommend it. Until the bar itself opens, this is a genuinely great alternative - and that presa is quite divine. Well worth getting some in for a tapas feast.
Hot Dinners received the tapas courtesy of José Pizarro.
More about José Pizarro's tapas delivery
Where is it? 104 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3UB
When is delivery available? Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 to 19:00, Sunday 12:00 to 16:00
Delivery range: 4.5 miles from the restaurant
How to order: Via their online shop.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @jose_pizarro.
Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners
