egn_cvsrt_training-045 El Gato Negro is proud to be supporting Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team – our local Mountain Rescue team – this summer by fundraising for this charity, which provides a vital life-saving emergency service to the people of Calderdale and beyond. They attend an average of 60+ callouts each year and is staffed entirely by 50 unpaid volunteers. It costs around £35,000 a year to keep the team operational, all of which is raised through donations – they receive no direct government funding.

We’ve had a collection box in the restaurant for the last couple of months, but on Thursday 3 June we’re launching an exciting new initiative to encourage our customers to make a optional contribution when they dine.

We are suggesting an optional donation of £1 per head from diners so that together we can raise some serious funding this summer for CVSRT. Thanks so much in advance for the generosity of our customers; we are sure they will embrace the chance to support this worthy cause by digging deep. We’re also looking to increase awareness of the work which the search and rescue team does.

Simon Shaw, chef/proprietor of El Gato Negro says…

“When I realised the real extent of the valuable work that CVSRT carry out and that it is completely voluntary, I felt that it was a truly worthwhile cause which deserved to be fully supported in whichever way we can. I hope that our customers will feel similarly and support us in this initiative. Many people think that the team only supports hillwalkers, mountain bikers and fell runners of which there are many in this area, however it also provides a valuable resource to all the emergency services as it is highly trained in all aspects of search and rescue in wild and remote places, often in difficult situations. The team is a key support for the Tour de France.”

Last week we had a visit from several volunteers for a photoshoot in the Ripponden afternoon sun; afterwards they held a workshop for our staff. Special thanks to Pete, Les, Karen, Tim and of course Meg the dog for their time with the team… we look forward to supporting you this summer and beyond!

El Gato Negro CVSRT collection box

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Le Grand Départ is coming to Ripponden! As we’re located right by the tour route, El Gato Negro is offering a choice of fantastic options for die-hard cycle fans, curious tourists, food lovers, and those just wishing to take part in the party atmosphere!  Our traditional Yorkshire stone-flagged floors will provide as much respite and cool as our selection of wine, sherries and beers for the event. And with several ways to enjoy our food, you’ll be able to mix the best of British and the most continental of flavours in a perfect package for a fantastic day out!
Option 1 is a ticket for a private daytime event. It’ll be an early start and a long day of thrills, so our Spanish-style breakfast will set you up in style, served from 9-11am. Then later we’ll be serving a great tapas lunch, with a set menu and a bottle of house wine. Plus of course the bar will be open, and we’ll have some special wines on hand for all the celebrations.

You’ll be able to watch all the excitement outside on the busy streets, or from the comfort of inside the restaurant on the big screens. A great deal at just £70 per head.

Option 2 is food to go: we’ll be selling a great lunch deal. Grab some special hot food, gourmet crisps and a cool drink and enjoy the spectacle in the crowds on the street outside. Great quality food to go… just £10.

Option 3 is a set evening meal (for when the peloton’s passed by and the roads have reopened, but the party carries on) offering some glorious tapas and a bottle of wine. Just £40 per head.
There’s plenty of interest so to secure your places, please call 01422 823070, or ask in person at the restaurant, for full details. Limited spaces!
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It’s Father’s day this Sunday, and we’re opening especially to make sure Dad and the rest of the family can enjoy something delicious and different to celebrate. Dad gets a free drink too… a choice of a glass of our popular rebujito, or an ice cold Estrella beer. Cheers!

We’ll be offering a wonderful selection of dishes; our specials blackboard will be featuring something extra special on Sunday… delicious rib of beef, served with fondant potatoes and green beans. Plus of course our regular menu, featuring a selection of superb seasonally-inspired dishes. We’ll be offering a hand-picked and perfectly honed selection of wines or sherries to accompany your meal… by the glass, or the bottle.

Open from 1pm-4pm for lunch on Sunday 15th for Father’s Day. We’d always recommend booking ahead, and are now taking reservations. Please call the restaurant directly on 01422 823070 to secure your places.

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Last night’s event, with our friend Jaime Quiroga, was a resounding success. Here’s a small photo gallery of the event in case you weren’t there.

 

 

 

 

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We’re delighted to welcome wine expert Jaime Quiroga back to El Gato Negro, after the runaway success of last summer’s ‘A Taste of Galicia’ event.

Last year Jaime delighted guests with his introduction to wines from this lesser-known corner of Spain, while Simon and the team created a menu to perfectly partner these flavours: we’ve been consistently asked when we would hold another with a similar theme. The good news is Jaime is returning to showcase some wines you may have experienced before (both the Casal de Paula wines have become firm favourites with customers) and some you may not have.

Simon visited Galicia  – a land of geographical contrasts and culinary bounty – in March and returned to the restaurant, inspired by the food and drink culture he encountered and eager to share this with a wider audience.

We’re excited to present the evening’s menu, featuring a selection of six superb Galician wines from the region’s independent vineyards, matched with a sumptuous tasting menu of flavours to evoke the experience of the mountains and coastline of Galicia.

Leira Seca
Artisan Galician charcuterie and our own house pickles

Quinta de la Erre Albariño
Hand-picked white crab meat, avocado purée and gazpacho

Casal de Paula Blanco
Chargrilled Galician-style octopus

Alodio Mencia
Poached duck egg yolk with Alejandro chorizo and migas breadcrumbs

Casal de Paula Tinto
Escabeche of quail

Sensum
Torta de Santiago with vanilla ice cream

Please note: the event was fully booked up in record time. Each event we hold is more popular than the last, and we only have limited places in order to keep the atmosphere intimate and engaging. To keep informed of our forthcoming special events, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

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asparagus, fried duck egg & almond picada

Chargrilled asparagus, fried duck egg & almond picada

We’re open throughout the Easter weekend, and look forward to welcoming you to enjoy our award-winning range of food and wines at El Gato Negro Tapas.

As usual we’ll be serving up a wonderful selection of dishes: our new spring menu has been going down a storm since we launched it, and it will be augmented with a series of stunning seasonal specials. As usual we’ll be offering a hand-picked and perfectly honed selection of wines and sherries to accompany your meal.

Our opening times over Easter are

Good Friday
Open for lunch, with bookings between 12:00 and 1.30pm
Normal evening opening times (from 6pm)

Saturday
Lunch service 12:00 – 2:00 pm,
Evening service 6:00 – 10:00 pm (last orders)

Easter Sunday
Open for lunch 1 – 4pm 

Monday
Closed

Tuesday
Closed

 We recommend booking ahead at this busy time. We’re now taking reservations: please call the restaurant directly on 01422 823070 to secure your places.

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Just as the clocks change and spring truly blossoms across the Pennines, we’ll be open on the last Sunday of this month – Mother’s Day on 30th March – and serving a very special four course menu for a truly memorable dining experience. The full menu is reproduced below.

Soup
Jerusalem Artichoke Velouté

Starter

A choice of either…
Seared hand-dived scallop with carrot and ginger puree
or
Sous vide pork shoulder presse, fried quail egg and morcilla

Main course

A choice of either…
Roast rib of aged beef, fondant potatoes, green beans, red wine jus
or
Fillet of line-caught Sea Bass, spring green vegetables, white bean and horseradish

Dessert

A choice of either…
Classic glazed lemon tart with fresh Raspberries
or
Valrhona chocolate caramel delice
or
A selection of regional Spanish cheeses

It’s priced at just £30 per head, and including a glass of rosé cava as an extra treat for mum. Last year this event sold out quickly so we’ve extended it to two sittings: 1–3pm and 4–6pm, to allow more diners to experience a wonderful Mothering Sunday. If you require a vegetarian alternative, please let our staff know at the time of booking.

Reservations are now being taken: please call the restaurant directly on 01422 823070. (Update) Only a few spaces remaining!

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Pencils at El Gato Negro

We’ve got a fantastic selection of events coming up at El Gato Negro as spring beckons: be sure to mark them up in your diaries…

Firstly on Sunday 30th March we’ll be provide the perfect way to treat mum, by hosting a special four course set menu Mother’s Day dining experience. Priced at just £30 per head, and including a glass of rosé cava as an extra treat for mum. We’re now taking bookings; last year this sold out quickly so we’ve extended it to two sittings: 1–3pm and 4–6pm, to allow more diners to experience a wonderful Mothering Sunday. We’ll be posting the full menu details very soon…

Simon’s off to Galicia later this month, in preparation for our next Galician-themed evening, on Thursday 8th May. Last year’s showcase of stunning wines and dishes inspired by this rugged, diverse region was a roaring success, and since then the Casal de Paula wines we launched have been (deserved) bestsellers. We’ll be joined again by Jaime Quiroga, who previously introduced us to so many wonderful Galego wines, and Simon and the team will be putting together a tasting menu to match. It’s a chance to enjoy more of the distinctive and delicious offerings from a less well-known corner of Spain.

We will post menus for each event closer to the time, to further whet your appetites, but we recommend booking your places early as places are likely to go quickly!

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For our first event of 2014, we’re very pleased to announce the menu for Valentine’s Night on Friday 14th February. We will be offering a sensuously sophisticated set menu to help you start a romantic evening with your significant other. Strictly pre-reserved places only.

You’ll start with a glass of our house Champagne to add some spritz to the evening, before enjoying five stunning courses created specially by Simon and the team in the kitchen.

Velouté of Jerusalem Artichoke

Lobster Cannelloni with a mustard and chive beurre blanc 

Ballotine of corn-fed chicken, sautéed wild mushrooms

Fillet mignon with fondant potato, red wine jus

Chocolate Fondue to share

The price per person is £50. Reservations can be made by phoning us on 01422 823070, or in person at the restaurant. Please be advised, spaces are limited for this event. We look forward to you joining us for a very special Valentine’s evening!

El Gato Valentines cat

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We’re delighted to confirm the gourmet menu for our New Year’s Eve celebrations. Demand was unprecedented and even after expanding across both floors, the evening is now fully booked.

If you’d like to maintain a level of surprise and anticipation until the evening, look away now… but if not, please read on.

Read more