Restaurant to add Spanish flair

A TALENTED chef from Barcelona will be infusing Beccles with some simmering Spanish flair.

Bailey's delicatessen in Hungate, normally only open during the day, will now be open on Friday and Saturday nights to serve fine Mediterranean cuisine in the upstairs restaurant.

And they have employed a new chef to deliver an exciting new menu.

It is all part of a new experience at the popular restaurant and delicatessen, which will also see tapas served downstairs.

Lito Rabassa, 25, has moved to Beccles from the Catalan city specifically to take on the role as chef in the restaurant.

Mr Rabassa had been working in the Michelin-starred Hofmann restaurant in Barcelona, and has now been entrusted to change the menu with his own vision of Mediterranean food.

“It's a unique opportunity,” said Mr Rabassa, who arrived in Beccles only two weeks ago. “I never thought at 25 I would be manning a kitchen. I'm in control and create my own menu - Spanish cooking is not all about paella.

“I want to enjoy cooking for the people who come here and enjoy showing them what we eat back home in the Mediterranean.”

Bailey's owner Xavier Esteve, who is himself from Barcelona, decided he wanted to bring in a chef from Spain and contacted a top catering school, who gave him Mr Rabassa's name.

The menu will be designed to reflect the rich and diverse culinary history of Spain, as well as the Mediterranean in general. As well as Friday and Saturday evenings Mr Rabassa will be cooking in the restaurant during the day, and will make food for the deli.

As part of the new evening experience at Bailey's, they will also be serving tapas downstairs. The new bar area, which will be where the stools are currently, is set to be installed in the next few weeks.

The deli will also be open on Friday and Saturday evenings.