Jerez Wine

Bar Pepito bills itself as London’s only Sherry Bar. I hope that is not the case for very long because this tiny little bar, in a courtyard near King’s Cross station, is genius and should be printed out all over London – especially near the big railway termini.

Can anyone think of a more civilised way to start the commute home? A quick copa of bracing Fino and a sliver of jamon. Some people say Fino does not travel well, but travel after a Fino is always better, so why on earth not? There are other sherries to be had at Bar Pepito, that’s if you don’t like Fino – a nice full range. The bar seems to be sponsored in some way by Gonzalez Byass: See the bright “Tio Pepe” sherry butts outside and much of the bar’s decoration. However that has not stopped them offering top quality sherries from other producers, like Fernando de Castilla, Lustau, Hidalgo-La Gitana and even a wine from the cultish Equipo Navazos. The bar is all the better for it. There’s an Enomatic machine in the corner, which contained amongst other things a rare 1968 añada sherry.

Bar Pepito opens to the great British public on Friday, 19th March 2009 and it’s worth a visit.

Bar Pepito
3 Varnishers Yard
The Regent Quarter
King’s Cross
London N1 9DF

Photo by Daquella manera











Serrano ham definitely has terroir, there’s no doubt about that, and there is a skill to slicing it, so if you want to learn your Bellotas from your Pata Negras and your Guijuelos from your Jabugos first read Niamh’s post on her blog Eat Like a Girl and then, like Niamh, get yourself booked onto a lesson with Brindisa at the Borough Market.

Apparently Niamh’s class were allowed to sip on Manzanilla while tasting the different hams. That alone would be enough to get me out of the house…