10 questions with José Pizarro

This year, José Pizarro is celebrating 15 years on Bermondsey Street, where he now has three restaurants – his original tapas bar José, his restaurant Pizarro, and his newest arrival, Lolo, an all-day dining restaurant serving everything from his famous tortilla at breakfast to ice cold fino and the best jamón ibérico this side of Huelva at night.

You can now find Lolo on the CODE app at up to 25% off total bill.

What’s the most underrated dish on your menu?

Tortilla de patatas. It looks quite simple but there is so much work behind it. There are only four ingredients in it: potato, onion, olive oil and egg but that onion needs to be caramelised with extra virgin oil for a very, very long time. It’s the same with the jamón ibérico; years and years of knowledge go into rearing the best possible pigs, curing the pork, there’s lots going on. Simplicity is the most expensive thing.

Where do you go after hours?

I really love to go home and enjoy a nice glass of wine and spend time with my dogs and my partner. Something I used to do but haven’t done in a very long time was, when times were tough – as they are now – and I was very stressed after service, I’d go for a walk to the Millennium Bridge. The view with St Paul’s on one side and Tate Modern on the other with no one around, is very special.

What’s your secret London tip?

The parks. All these calm places that London has are very good when you are stressed. London in general is so special; we are very lucky.

What’s the best thing you can do in London with £20?

Go to a museum – they are often free – give £5 or £10 to support the space and just have good coffee! The Royal Academy is very important for me [Pizarro has a restaurant there] but the crazy thing in London is the diversity of museums. You have museums for every single thing. It’s so unique and costs almost nothing.

Where do you go when you want to splurge?

I love The Ritz. I love the carpets, when you go there, you think ‘Wow, this is a good carpet underfoot!’ There is so much to see. You feel like you might see the queen there. I love it, I love it more than anything else!

Which CODE offers are you going to be snapping up?

Ikoyi, definitely [20% off tasting menu]. I spent time with Jeremy Chan at Chelsea Flower Show this year because we were cooking in the same area. He is so talented and so clever. I need to go back and check it out.

What’s your favourite thing to cook at home?

Rice. I can stand there for three hours making a simple arroz.

Which element of your job do you like most and like least?

I love people. We have the most incredible customers who are now friends. What I really hate is stocktaking which I shouldn’t say because it is one of the most important things in the business. Some people don’t like difficult customers but I like difficult customers. They make me work harder.

What are your favourite and least favourite ingredients?

Extra virgin olive oil, that’s my favourite ingredient. The diversity! Something that I hate and I don’t know why it is still on menus is truffle oil, synthetic truffle oil. It’s absolutely disgusting! Generally truffle oil kills everything.

When you’re not working in a restaurant or eating in one, where will we find you?

I love antiques. I love art. I like to see exhibitions that make me think.

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