Portrait of Spanish chef José Pizarro

José Pizarro is a Spanish chef, restaurateur and writer. He runs José Pizarro Group, which currently includes six restaurants in the UK and one in Abu Dhabi.^[1] He has published six cookbooks and is a regular guest on TV shows and at festivals around the UK. Pizarro is often credited with making Spanish food popular in the country.^[2]

Early life

Originally from the village of Talaván in Cáceres, Extremadura, Pizarro grew up in a family of farmers and helped his parents produce vegetables, dairy products and different meats throughout his childhood.^[3][4][5]

He trained as a dental technician and took a cookery course. While waiting for his first position to begin, Pizarro was offered work in a rotisserie kitchen in Cáceres, which kickstarted his career as a chef.^[6][7]

Career

José Pizarro spent his early years training in some of the top restaurants in Spain before becoming Head Chef at Michelin-starred restaurant El Mesón de Doña Filo.^[8] In 1998, he decided to move to London despite not speaking any English and spent time working at some of the city's most prestigious Spanish restaurants including Eyre Brothers, Brindisa and Gaudi.^[6][9][10]

In 2011, Pizarro opened his first solo venture, José Tapas Bar on Bermondsey Street, inspired by the tapas bars of Barcelona. In the same year, he opened his next venture, Pizarro Restaurant, also on Bermondsey Street. The restaurant went on to earn several accolades including Best Mediterranean Establishment at The Food Awards London, The Rosette Awards for Culinary Excellence, Food and Travel Magazine's Best Newcomer of the Year and Best Restaurant of the Year.^[11]

Pizarro opened two further venues in London: José Pizarro at Broadgate Circle and pop-up restaurant Little José in Canary Wharf (now closed). His next venture was The Swan Inn in Esher, which he took over from fellow chef Claude Bosi in 2019.^[12]

In August 2021, Pizarro opened two restaurants at the Royal Academy of Arts.^[13][14] The two locations were created in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts and its creative catering and hospitality partner, Company of Cooks.^[15]

Pizarro opened Iris Zahara, a guest house in Zahara de Los Atunes, Andalusia, in 2022.^[16] The seaside property can host up to six guests at a time, who can join the chef and his partner Peter on food and travel experiences such as private wine and sherry trips, culinary tours and cookery experiences with Pizarro in his own kitchen.^[17]

In March 2023, Pizarro opened José by Pizarro, a restaurant inside the Conrad Hilton in Abu Dhabi. This was his first restaurant opening outside the UK.^[18][19]

Published works

• Pizarro, José (2009). Seasonal Spanish Food. London: Kyle Books. ISBN 9780857830845
• Pizarro, José (2012). José Pizarro's Spanish Flavours. London: Kyle Books. ISBN 9780857834560
• Pizarro, José (2016). Basque. London: Hardie Grant. ISBN 9781784883683
• Pizarro, José (2017). Catalonia. London: Hardie Grant. ISBN 9781784881160
• Pizarro, José (2019). Recipes from Andalusia. London: Hardie Grant. ISBN 9781784886325
• Pizarro, José (2022). The Spanish Home Kitchen. London: Hardie Grant. ISBN 9781784884475

Personal life

José lives in London and Spain with his partner Dr Peter Meades and their two dogs, Conchi and Pie.^[33][34]

References