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The Spanish Are Coming

February 2019

2019 is starting off as the Year of Spain with two monumental new openings from José Andrés -  Jaleo at Disney Springs in Florida and a new Spanish food hall, Mercado Little Spain, launching in New York City.

This March, the fifth and largest Jaleo will open at Disney Springs, part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The 22,000-square foot restaurant will feature Spanish favorites from José’s flagship restaurant in D.C., along with an expanded menu of wood-fired paellas and grilled meats.

Designed by Spanish architect Juli Capella, the restaurant lives in a dynamic, multi-level space with breathtaking exterior architecture - including petals that organically open up and a completely open-air design without exterior walls.

Occupying the front-corner of Jaleo and overlooking the main promenade of Disney Springs will be the first brick-and-mortar location of José’s beloved Spanish food truck, Pepe. Pepe will be a quick-service restaurant featuring Spanish street-food-inspired sandwiches and salads.

On March 15, Spanish food hall Mercado Little Spain will open its doors at 501 W 30th Street in the new Hudson Yards development on Manhattan's West Side. Little Spain is José’s first restaurant project in New York and includes creative input from legendary Spanish chefs (and José’s amigos) Ferran and Albert Adrià. 

A 35,000-square foot immersion into all things España, Little Spain offers three full-service restaurants (Leña, Mar, and Spanish Diner), two bars, and 15 tapas kiosks. Dedicated to paellas and grilled meats, Leña will be an ode to live fire cooking and the grill-centered restaurants of the Basque country and Valencia. Mar, an intimate restaurant and chef’s counter, will be devoted to fish and seafood, with many selections flown in fresh from Spain. Spanish Diner will have all-day casual dining from egg dishes to platos combinados, as well as drinks and futból matches on the big screen.

Of the two bars, one will be devoted to cocktails, and the other to Spanish wines. The 15 kiosks will serve a wide selection of tapas - from the finest Spanish jamón to churros, fried seafoods to Spanish sandwiches, and unique desserts and pastries. There will also be two retail areas selling a variety of Spanish imports, cooking kits, and gift baskets.

About the project, José says, “I’ve dreamed of opening in New York since I first came here at the age of 19! I cannot wait to tell the story of Spain to my adopted home of America in this iconic new neighborhood. And to do this with my friends, my mentor Ferrán and his brother Albert…such an honor and so much fun!”

To learn more about Jaleo Disney, follow along here, and for more about Mercado Little Spain, follow here.