news Archives

Advent 2013 – what’s behind the door at El Gato Negro?

We’re posting an Advent message, to our friends and followers every day in the run up to Christmas this December, on Facebook and Twitter. You can see them daily on our Twitter feed at the bottom of this page, or join in by ‘liking’ or following us!

However even if you don’t ‘do’ social media, there’s no need for you to miss out. We’ve added a full gallery of the images below for you to enjoy!

After a busy day we can start our #Advent properly… let’s start the countdown to Xmas with a rather good aged sherry!

Day 2 of #Advent…celebrating #paella! Our perfect gift for all fans of the iconic rice dish… http://ow.ly/rleGW

Day 3 of #Advent and what better than some mouth-watering reading from Relish, showcasing the very best of Yorkshire and the North East (including ourselves, of course!)

#Advent day 4 reveals Simon & John basking in September sun & plaudits after being awarded our Michelin #BibGourmand

It's day 5 of our #Advent… featuring our giftworthy & delicious gourmet hamper… the perfect introduction to artisanal Spanish delights! https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/image-item/gourmet-hamper-media/

It’s day 5 of our #Advent… featuring our giftworthy gourmet hamper… the perfect introduction to artisanal Spanish delights!

Happy Friday! Day 6 of #Advent, and behind today’s door is a seasonal scene from the mantelpiece of Xmas past…

Give a gift guaranteed to make the recipient happy: El Gato Negro gift vouchers https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/image-item/gift-vouchers/ #advent Day 7

What’s behind today’s #Advent door today (apart from lots of happy lunchtime Sunday diners)? Our festive Xmas tree…

We’ve got great stocking filler gift ideas for you, including these tea towels & mugs! #Advent https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/image-item/merchandise/

Behind Day 10’s #Advent door: it’s time to wish everyone a very Happy Noel. Today marks a fortnight until Xmas Eve!

#Advent Day11: our stunning ‘último’ gourmet hamper. Top of the range, a fantastic gift idea! https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/image-item/gourmet-hamper-ultimo/

#Advent Day 12 reveals a little red book & a lip-licking Mr Bibendum behind today’s door https://www.elgatonegrotapas.com/el-gato-negro-is-awarded-a-michelin-bib-gourmand/

#Advent Day 13: our manchego & wine gift set provides the perfect pairing & accompaniments

#Advent Day 14 reveals our family of reindeer decorations, getting excited about #Sunday lunch tomorrow

#Advent Day15 shows our ‘mejor’ gourmet hamper: marvellous morsels & premium products galore!

#Advent Day 16. This delightful knitted robin is reminding you to follow us on #Twitter!

#Advent Day 17… enjoy superb sherry by the glass. Not just for Father Christmas… and no glitter or carrots required!

Gift deadline extension, due to demand! Order by THURS morning for pre-Xmas collection #Advent

Good cheer & Xmas spirits abound on Day 19 of #Advent… we’re proud of our range of excellent wines for all tastes

Reindeer on the march for Day 20 of #Advent!

Day 21 of #Advent (happy solstice too) Behind here lies better food than you find behind many advent calendar doors!

Open today for our last #Sunday before Xmas. See if you can spot our flying santa if you’re here for lunch!

A welcome day off, with the aroma of spices & sherry filling the air before our last service on Xmas Eve #Advent

Open 1-6pm today… then we’ll be hanging up our stockings & relaxing until NYE! Merry Xmas from us, thank you! #Advent

December 8, 2013

December and holiday opening hours

News

We are open for the first four Sundays in December (1st, 8th, 15th, 22) for lunch, from 1-4pm. We will be featuring an offer on different wines for each Sunday to accompany this. As a result of being open on Sundays we will be closed on the Tuesdays, reopening at 6pm on the Wednesday. Our full opening hours in December before Christmas will be

Wed – Thurs 6pm – 9.30pm (last food orders)
Friday 6pm – 10pm (last food orders)
Sat 12-2pm, 6pm – 10pm (last food orders)
Sun 1-4pm

In addition we will also be open for a lunch/afternoon sitting on Christmas Eve (Tuesday 24th) from 1pm-6pm.

We will then be closed over Christmas, reopening only for the ticket-only evening on New Year’s Eve. We reopen to the public for a full service on Thursday 23st January and, as we’re not open for the first Sunday of the month, instead we’ll open on Sunday 26th, and will be offering a free glass of cava to all diners on the day to help chase away the January blues.

We hope you will be able to join us at El Gato Negro in the lead up to Christmas this year!

November 22, 2013

El Gato Negro is awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand

Creds, News

We’re over the moon to have been awarded our first Michelin Bib Gourmand – the award from the iconic guide* which recognises those establishments offering good food at affordable prices.

El Gato Negro is one of just 27 new Bib Gourmands awarded in this year’s Michelin Guide. The Guide now features 143 Bibs across the whole of Great Britain and Ireland; only ten of which are in the North of England and just three, including El Gato Negro, located in Yorkshire. So it’s a huge privilege to be awarded a prestigious Bib; flying the flag for great food in West Yorkshire.

Chef-proprietor Simon Shaw comments: “We’re incredibly proud and honoured to be recognised by the Michelin Guide in this way. It’s a true testament to the restaurant team’s hard work and professionalism and I can’t thank them enough for all their support over the years.”

El Gato Negro has been listed as a Recommended restaurant in previous editions of the Michelin Guides but this, along with another recent strong listing in the Waitrose Good Food Guide, and a series of glowing customer reviews, shows we continue to strive and improve our offering.

We believe it also demonstrates Simon’s vision that providing a mix of confident and exciting Spanish-influenced food, a personally-chosen selection of appropriate wines; and friendly, knowledgable staff in an informal atmosphere will be equally popular with discerning critics and patrons. With plans well underway to take the flavours and ethos of El Gato Negro to a wider audience in 2014 via our lovingly restored Citroen HY van, we look forward to what luck the black cat brings us (and you) in the next twelve months!

*The paper version of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2014 will be available in bookshops from 4 October 2013, priced at £15.99 (€16.99 in Ireland).

September 26, 2013

Another great review in the Good Food Guide for 2014

Creds, News

Having featured consistently for several years, we are delighted to once again be featured in the Good Food Guide 2014… one of only a select group of eating establishments in this part of the county to do so.

They say “No clichés, just sharp honest tapas” and commend the food, the ambience and the wines. We say thanks for another great review!

September 13, 2013

Monthly Sunday lunches at El Gato Negro

News

Our customers have been asking us for years if we’d open on Sundays. With the exception of a few special occasions (such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day) we’re usually closed. However… we’re always responsive to our customer’s wishes, so we’re pleased to announce that starting this month, we’ll be opening for on the first Sunday of the month, featuring a bespoke menu comprising some old favourites, superb specials and seasonal delights.

The first Sunday we’re open is July 7th, and then every month after that. To allow our hard-working staff to recharge their batteries, after a Sunday opening we’ll be closed on the Tuesday as well as our usual Mondays. Therefore we’ll be closed on Tuesday 9 July.

We’re now taking advance bookings for Sunday lunch on 01422 823070, and doors will be open from 1pm. Enjoy a day of rest with a great alternative to Sunday lunch at home, offering El Gato Negro’s superb standards of food and wines. We hope to see you there!

July 4, 2013

Father’s Day special menu

News

Great news for Dads (and everyone else in the family)! Following the success of Mother’s Day back in March, we’re pleased to announce we’ll be opening on Sunday 16th June for Father’s Day. We’re not normally open on a Sunday… so it’s a great chance to enjoy a special family lunch and treat your dad to a delicious, memorable meal at El Gato Negro Tapas. Or indeed if you’re just looking for a special Sunday lunch to enjoy!

Simon and the kitchen team will be serving a special menu: six of our signature tapas dishes, and a choice of dessert – all for just £25 per head.

The six dishes are

Padrón peppers with Halen Môn Salt
Mini Catalan chorizo with Aspall Cider
Patatas bravas
Poached duck egg yolk with Alejandro chorizo & migas breadcrumbs
Pinchos Morunos, chickpea and chilli purée, and harissa yoghurt dressing
Tiger prawns with chilli, lemon, garlic and paprika

… and a choice of dessert

A selection of ice creams
Creme Catalan
A selection of cheeses

We’re offering a choice of two sittings: either 12-3 or 3-6, with limited numbers of places available for both sittings.

Reservations are now being taken: please call the restaurant directly on 01422 823070. We expect both sittings to be rapidly booked up, so we’d recommend calling and booking rapidly to avoid disappointment.

May 23, 2013

Mother’s Day special menu

News

We’re open for a very important Sunday this month – Mother’s Day on Sunday 10 March. Regulars may know we’re normally closed on a Sunday… so this is a rare and perfect opportunity to treat your mum to a special and memorable meal at El Gato Negro Tapas.

Simon and the team will be serving up a suitably special menu: six delightful tapas dishes, and a delicious dessert – all for just £25 per head. We’re offering a choice of two sittings: either 12-3 or 3-6. Limited covers are available for both sittings.

Reservations are now being taken: please call the restaurant directly on 01422 823070. We expect both sittings to be rapidly booked up, so we’d recommend calling and booking quickly to avoid disappointment.

March 1, 2013

A gourmet evening of matched sherries and fine food

News

El Gato Negro Tapas is pleased to announce our first specialist event of the year: a gourmet evening of matched sherries and fine food.

Banish the January blues with a splash of Spanish style on Tuesday 22nd January, as we pair a stunning selection of sherries with a special tasting menu. We’re excited that this first sherry evening of 2013 will feature a rare UK appearance by the master venenciador direct from leading sherry house Gonzalez Byass in Jerez. Gonzalez Byass has been producing high quality sherry in Jerez for over 175 years, and they’re perfectly placed to showcase the heritage and provenance of these exceptional Spanish wines.

The venenciador’s unique skill is based on a time-honoured tradition of expertly drawing out samples from sherry barrels, using a ‘venencia’ or measure on the end of a long, flexible pole, then pouring these into copitas. Enjoy his flamboyant performance as you savour six very special sherries, along with matching tasting dishes, throughout this special evening.

Between the venenciador and an expert from the Gonzalez Byass UK team, you’ll learn about the unique production and styles of sherry, and how these pair with different foods. Simon will be on hand to explain the perfectly-matched dishes from the evening’s tasting menu, expertly complimenting each sherry’s characteristics.

We hope you can join us for this unique and memorable event. Our previous sherry evening last year was a sell-out success and ever since we’ve had customers asking when we’d repeat the experience. There are limited places, and with the added bonus of the venenciador direct from Jerez, places will go quickly.

Bookings can be secured by phoning the restaurant direct on 01422 823070*

Doors open 7pm, and the event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £45 per person.

* We use a telephone booking system to ensure the seating plan is tailored to your needs. Please let our staff know if you have any specialist dietary considerations. Thank you.

January 8, 2013

Christmas and New Year arrangements 2012

News

We’re open as usual until Monday 24th December (we’re also open on Sunday 23rd December). El Gato Negro Tapas will be closed for business from the evening of Christmas Eve for a well-deserved festive break. We reopen on Thursday 10th January 2013, refreshed and ready for the new year, and look forward to welcoming customers old and new through our doors again.

December 17, 2012

We’re in the Sunday Times Food List today

News

We’re excited to have been featured in the Sunday Times’ Food List today, as part of their Cheap(ish) Eats guide. They love our famed morcilla scotch eggs, and the review via Hardens calls us “the best tapas in the north”. We’re very pleased, but thanks go to our whole team here at El Gato Negro, as well as all our loyal customers, old and new, who speak so highly of us.

“Shaw’s “excellent” converted pub is “a joy”.

It’s an extra pleasure to have a photograph of our selection of Spanish Meats (Salchichon, Lomo, Fuet de Vic, Serrano Ham, Chorizo Magno, Chorizo Artisan Leon) at the top of the page for Yorkshire and the North East, accompanied by the headline “Cure perfection”. Looks delicious!

November 4, 2012

Tag Archive for: news

Advent 2013 – what’s behind the door at El Gato Negro?

December and holiday opening hours

El Gato Negro is awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand

Another great review in the Good Food Guide for 2014

Monthly Sunday lunches at El Gato Negro

Father’s Day special menu

Mother’s Day special menu

A gourmet evening of matched sherries and fine food

El Gato Negro Tapas is pleased to announce our first specialist event of the year: a gourmet evening of matched sherries and fine food.

Bookings can be secured by phoning the restaurant direct on 01422 823070*

Doors open 7pm, and the event starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £45 per person.

* We use a telephone booking system to ensure the seating plan is tailored to your needs. Please let our staff know if you have any specialist dietary considerations. Thank you.

Christmas and New Year arrangements 2012

We’re in the Sunday Times Food List today

LEEDS

LIVERPOOL

MANCHESTER