We’ve been dealing with Spanish food importer Brindisa for thirty something years. They’re not exactly ‘good and ordinary’ because their products regularly notch up five star ratings in tastings etc. To start with, they seemed expensive and a bit of a treat but as we’ve toiled through the problems of Brexit, currency devaluation and cost of living crisis, together with the whole two-tier food world we live in, price rises have been minimal and most of their stuff now feels far more affordable.
Anyway, they had an open day in one of their London Tapas bars where Harry and I were competing to be the first to eat one’s own body weight of Pata Negra Iberico Jamon. We gave it our best shot but they ran out of ham. It was a good day – particularly meeting some of the people behind the business and realising, despite being Spanish food importers, how closely aligned our values are. They’ve worked reciprocally, with some of their suppliers, Ortiz (fish), Navarrico (pulses), La Chinata (paprika) and Nunez de Prado (olive oil) since the beginning. Everything always looks fantastic and, unlike most importers, if you ask them a question, they don’t pretend to have trouble understanding you. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll find out and let you know ASAP.
New in from Brindisa:
Romesco sauce
Aioli
Perello Olive oil – 3l tins
La Narval tinned sardines and mackerel fillets
Embutidos Naveda Asturian charcuterie
