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The adventure that the Parellada brothers, Roger and Marc, have undertaken in London could well be the plot of the latest HBO series. Their exciting journey from Tarragona to the heart of the English capital began with the ringing of bells supervised by grandfather Jaume ‘de Cal Campaner’ in Cabra del Camp, and has led them to The Campaner, the luxury London restaurant in which they have invested 10 million euros.
Located in one of the most exclusive areas of Chelsea – Garrison Square in the Chelsea Barracks, a former British Army barracks – it pays homage to its roots from its name to its culinary proposal, with a Mediterranean soul and deliciously authentic (made, of course, with the best seasonal British products).
“The idea of The Campaner is to be a place with personality and a touch of romanticism in which business flows, people feel at home and combine Mediterranean cuisine with local products, open from breakfast to dinner,” Roger and Marc explained to La Vanguardia.
For whom the bells toll
To manage this very special venture, the Parellada brothers have relied on Mar Martín, general manager of catering for Los Reyes del Mango. The group’s most iconic restaurant is Terraza Martínez (Montjuïc), one of the gastronomic stops for the Obamas and Spielberg during their visit to Barcelona last month. In fact, The Campaner’s menu gives a succulent nod to its rice dishes, such as the delicious Catalan ‘Socarrat’ with prawns, and they share their star dish: the Cazuela de bogavante y rape en dos servicios (lobster and monkfish casserole in two courses).
But at The Campaner, they also offer original and sophisticated home-grown snacks throughout the day, such as oysters, caviar or scrambled eggs with prawns; and Spanish products such as sobrasada or Iberian ham, which alternate with other local delicacies, such as a selection of English cheeses or cured meats.
Among the liquid temptations to toast are the Kir Royal (here we show you how to prepare it), the Golden Stairs, the Bloody Mary or the Pineapple Mezcal Margarita. And be careful because inside, The Campaner keeps a fun secret: The Clandestí, a bar with little light hidden from the outside world that invites you “to get lost to find yourself from that hour when the sun stops shining”.
As a last curiosity, we will tell you that The Campaner shares Garrison Square with the Garrison Chapel church, where the bells are still ringing. This “symbol of the connection between earth and sky”, as they define it on their website, puts the poetic accent to the work and chance that have led the Parellada brothers to the top of the world of finance.
