Bottomless Brunch At Barca Bar, Casa Hotel, Chesterfield
Published On Saturday 6 May 2023 by Sticky Beak
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It’s been a while since The Man and I did a bottomless brunch, so we were delighted to be asked along to Barca Bar in Chesterfield’s 4 -star Casa Hotel to try their interpretation 😊. Better still, it was during the Early May Bank Holiday; what a way to spend an afternoon!
Now, I know we all joke about ‘Ches Vegas’ but I tell you what, you’ve got all the swank and zhuzh of the US city of extravagance right here in Casa Hotel. What a beautiful venue! Lush foliage, via your imagination, could whisk you away to Shakespeare’s ‘Midsummer Nights’ Dream’ or to the Copacabana Palace Hotel – yup, I’ll take that vibe, all day long 😊.
One of the smartly dressed staff escorted us over to our booth table and kicked us off with a flute of lively Prosecco, smiling broadly as she poured it out. As we clinked glasses, we were asked if either of us had any dietary requirements the kitchen team needed to be aware of, and then informed that there would be a little wait for our Tapas as they’re cooked fresh-to-order.
His Nibs and I refreshed our memories as to what we were going to be tucking into: Sticky Belly Pork glazed in Soy and Miso, with Spring Onions and Peppers; Korean Cauliflower glazed in Soy and Gochujang; Padron Peppers garnished with Chilli Rock Salt, and Patatas Bravas with Spicy Tomato and Pepper Sauce and Garlic Aioli. In addition to this there is Chef’s Charcuterie Board included in the £35 per person cost to the Bottomless Brunch, that offers a selection of Spanish Cured Meats, Olives, Sundried Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Padron Peppers, Toasted Sourdough and Mixed Leaves with a drizzle of dressing. Vegetarians needn’t despair; there is a meat-free version for you, too 😊.
Our first glass of fizz had slipped down a treat and Tabitha came back to fill us up again; one thing I did note throughout our 90-minute slot was that the team were very observant of all their guests needs and you weren’t waiting with an empty glass more than a minute or so! If prosecco isn’t your thing, then Barca offers Estrella Damm lager or, if you’re the designated driver (or simply don’t drink) then there is a range of Franklin and Sons softs to choose from.
In the interval between having our glasses refreshed and our Tapas arriving, I took in more of the sumptuous setting. Our booth was illuminated by a warm Terracotta toned, tasselled shade that accented the striking Tropical Leaf paper on the wall beside us, and gentle, flickering light came from the tealight in the amber hued holder. The ambience was relaxed and intimate for us as a couple, and chilled-but-fun for the group of ladies in the adjacent booth 😊.
A Caribbean Sea shade of Turquoise was chosen for the glossy tiles on the bars’ pillars, echoed by the circular banquette seating in the centre of the space. For an injection of warmth, a mesmerising coral shade had been chosen for some of the free-standing chairs and seating at the bar, and some of the mid-back seats were patterned as well to add visual interest.
Just then, one of the dapper chaps from Barca’s team came over, laden with a quartet of dishes that housed some incredible smelling morsels. Simple though the Tapas may be, their presentation was superb; sauces were stylishly drizzled and vegetables thinly sliced and scattered for pretty garnishes. With the photos taken, The Man Bird and I began our brunching in earnest (with another slick, barely-noticed top-up of Prosecco from Tabitha!).
It was hard to know where to start, but both of us have a weakness for charred Padron Peppers so they were first to get munched at! Softened outers yielded easily to the bite, releasing their (usually, unless you find the rogue hot one!) sweet, nutty taste onto our eager palates that was partnered beautifully by a hint of heat and fire from the Chilli salt that kissed their surface. For those that doubt Cauliflower as a dish, all I can say is that the Korean-pimped version served at Barca was deceptively meaty and satiating - and in term of taste, wowsers, it packed a punch! 😊
Honestly, this brunch experience is sensory paradise, but then, Casa’s owner, Steve Perez, doesn’t do anything by halves! If we were any more chilled, we ‘d have been horizontal as we nibbled through the delicious Patatas Bravas, dipping their golden outers first into the piquant Tomato and Pepper sauce and then into the creamy Aioli with its marvellous garlic edge 😊.
The cubes of Belly Pork were topped with stunningly crunchy crackling whose salty tang had me licking my lips happily, before my mouth discovered the rich creaminess of the Pork itself. Not only did this dish taste superb, it looked beautiful too; if you examined it laterally, you could see each stratum perfectly and appreciate where every element of flavour that bounced in the mouth came from.
As if Bottomless Brunch at Barca Bar isn’t extra enough, the strains of an acoustic guitar began to drift through the air; enter musician extraordinaire, Mr Simon Redfern. Simon kindly acceded to our request to play ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ and we got up to have a smooch to ‘our song’ – I know, soppy buggers aren’t we?! We weren’t the only ones appreciating Simon’s talent; at the end of each song, there was a ripple of applause for his skill, and how super is it to have live music serenading you whilst you eat and drink over lunch 😊?
Slow-dancing makes you hungry. Fact. After our smooching we headed back to the comfort of our booth and tucked into the absolutely delicious selection of Spanish Charcuterie and various accompaniments, which included possibly the scrummiest Scotch Egg on the planet! I bagged all the Green Olives; not sure whether they were Picual or Manzanilla (though my gut says Manzanilla due to their size and ‘meatiness’) but they were wonderfully tasty with their brine and bitter hints. In total contrast were the intensely sweet sun-dried Tomatoes, whose flavour drenched our taste buds with joy, and who can resist the mild, creamy allure of soft Artichoke Hearts? Not me!
To my surprise, His Nibs - aka Salad Dodger Supremo – was snaffling some of the lightly dressed leaves; I couldn’t fault him though, the mix of sweet and bitter leaves was excellent in the mouth and the crispness gave a great injection of texture. Spain is a country of many flavours and the kitchen team at Barca Bar and Cocina (Casa’s 2 rosette -awarded restaurant, located upstairs) certainly make use of the multitude of options and combinations!
There were at least three different meats to savour and Paprika and Pepper provided a mouth-watering warmth, as well as Garlic and Rosemary being detected on the palate. The meats were soft, with a nice chew time, making them the perfect partner to the slices of toasted sourdough that were nestled on the wooden platter 😊.
Don’t be fooled into thinking ‘it’s only a charcuterie platter and some nibbles, that won’t fill me’; our tummies certainly knew they’d eaten the variety of morsels served up – we didn’t even manage any supper that evening! When your 90-minute brunch slot is over, charges will apply to any drinks consumed after that time, and your table can’t be guaranteed. We had to scoot promptly at the end of our time allocation though, because Fledge was our taxi and she’d got places to be as well.
We’ve done some bottomless brunches in our time, but I have to say that the chic surroundings, live music and breadth of the food offering tips this particular one from Barca into pole position. If you’re all about the cocktails then this particular brunch won’t be your first choice, but we absolutely loved it; it’s well worth the price tag in my opinion, and therefore deserving of ‘Hot Wings’. To keep the exclusive feel, this Bottomless Brunch is currently only available on the last Saturday of every month: the summer ones will be 27th May (late Bank Holiday Weekend), 24th June, 29th July and 26th August (the last Bank Holiday Weekend of the year).
To really push the boat out, sack the taxi off and stay a night in Casa Hotel itself; for £170 you can snag two places at Bottomless Brunch, chill (or keep partying hard) in one of the deluxe double or twin rooms, and enjoy a cooked-fresh-to-order breakfast the next morning in Cocina restaurant. Sounds like a plan, right? To book a bottomless brunch or the overnight deal ring the team on 01246 245999 or visit the website www.casahotels.co.uk and click on the events button, and hit the ‘res diary’ date and time of your choice 😊.
Whilst thanks go to all the Barca team, a special mention has to go to the lovely Tabitha for her exceptional customer service and, of course, to Simon Redfern for his fantastic guitar skills! Thanks and gratitude also to our friend Dawn for the kind invitation to this magnificent brunch event 😊.
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