About BCN Restaurant
This past Saturday a new restaurant opened in Houston, in this town of great restaurants. What makes this one so special is that it is, with the opening of BCN Taste & Tradition a first Texas taste of modern Spanish cuisine. The name BCN is taken from the three-letter abbreviation for the city of Barcelona. That Spanish city is the birthplace and culinary training ground for chef Luis Roger and owner Ignacio Torras. It is also a reference to the style and spirit of the authentic and contemporary Spanish cuisine being offered at the restaurant.
Having been fortunate to be one of those invited to a preview of the restaurant, I was smitten immediately…..not by the food, that would happen also but came later. Being such a visual person, just the ambiance and feel for the restaurant was what I was to notice first and be taken with. It is set in a charming and intimate 1920’s era home in the heart of the Montrose area, steps from one of my favorite places to visit in the city, the Menil Collection and the lovely St. Thomas U. campus. The two story space designed by Augustin Orozco encompasses a cozy bar at entry, a downstairs space, with its museum-white walls, that were a perfectly clean backdrop for many original works by Miro and Picasso. It seats 54 and again has a warm, cozy yet modern atmosphere that was reminiscent of a Greenwich Village restaurant in NYC. Upstairs is reserved for private dining and small parties in its two dining rooms.
The Menu
This menu reflects many of Roger’s best dishes over his two decades of Spanish gastronomy experience beginning around the family kitchen in Barcelona where his Grandparents had a large influence on his modern Spanish cuisine. The menu will include many ingredients and items sourced specifically from Spain for Houston. As an admitted novice to Spanish cooking, I must say I enjoyed many items that I had never tasted before. From the highly sought after cured prosciutto to the Spanish anchovies which I loved and was not a previous fan of. There were wonderful mussels, cod and an assortment of local grass-fed beef in cuts such as tenderloin and a Cowboy Steak of bone-in ribeye. You must also leave room for dessert…..all out of the ordinary but perfect as an ending to an exquisite meal. This menu must be tried to appreciate…as again, a novice to this region of Spain delicacies, I was very taken with the taste-treats put before me!
Executive Chef and Owner, Luis Roger
The Key Players at BCN
Two years ago, BCN partner and financial investor, Houston-based commodity trader and fellow barcelones, Ignacio Torras, convinced Luis Roger that Houston was ready to receive a restaurant with BCN’s philosophy. For this he quit his job and comfortable life to do something amazing. He wanted to create in this boom town of ours “one of those places where people say, ‘Don’t miss that Spanish Restaurant, BCN. It is as good as the best places in Spain…” Also, for the front of house, BCN has hired Paco Calza, a fine dining veteran who worked alongside acclaimed Houston chef and James Beard Award winner, Robert Del Grande for 28 years. Calza, who we all know and love as Paco, is originally from the Galicia region of Spain and will also be responsible for BCN’s wine list and beverage program, which he promises will include “a very incredible gin and tonic”…what some might consider the signature drink of Spain….this I never knew?!!
The Details
BCN Taste & Tradition is located at 4210 Roseland, Houston, 77006. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday thru Saturday. For more info, visit their site, www.bcnhouston.com or call 832-834-3411 or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BCNhouston