British Ambassador gets cooking with Spanish chef David Muñoz

What can the British Ambassador to Spain and the Mohican-wearing, Spanish it-chef of the moment have in common? 

Not much, it might appear, but Simon Manley, 46, and David Muñoz, 33, share several passions.

Running, food and the United Kingdom are three of them, and the pair has just been filmed cooking the classic British dish of roast beef with Yorkshire pudding – with a distinctive, modern Spanish twist. 

In a new video on YouTube, David explains why he will soon be opening his first international restaurant in Britain. 

“I love it,” says David. “I lived in London for six years, and learnt almost everything there. London’s huge gastronomic diversity can be found nowhere else.”

Simon Manley adds, “David’s decision to expand into the UK shows what a great place London is to start a new business or expand an existing one.

What’s more, he’ll add even further to the incredible quality and variety of food which visitors to London can enjoy.”

David recently received his third Michelin star, making him the youngest Spaniard to win the top Michelin ranking and the only holder of three stars in Madrid.

His new restaurant, StreetXo London, will open this summer in Mayfair, bringing with it the culinary style that has made a table at his tiny DiverXO restaurant among the most desirable – and near unobtainable – in Spain.

The video shows the two in Union Jack aprons producing a dish of roast beef with Yorkshire pudding in the Ambassador’s official Residence – with the addition of horseradish, papaya and a herb that grows beside Spanish rivers.

One of the top Foreign Office priorities for its Ambassadors – such as Simon Manley in the British Embassy in Madrid – is to explain the benefits of investing in Britain, which is recognised as the easiest country in Europe in which to start a new business. 

David Muñoz will shortly be joining internationally renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Jamie Oliver, Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc – to name but five based in Britain – to continue the ‘gastro revolution’ that is fast changing foreigners’ perceptions of British food.

Meanwhile the ‘Britain is GREAT’ campaign, which has a special emphasis on food, is also helping more British suppliers to sell their products into overseas markets.