José Pizarro is a Spanish chef widely credited with popularising Spanish cuisine in the UK in the late 1990s. Born in Extremadura, he began his career at Eyre Brothers in Shoreditch before becoming the Executive Chef at Brindisa. In 2011, he opened his first restaurant José on Bermondsey Street, offering simple and traditional tapas. His restaurants now include José Pizarro at the Royal Academy, Jose Pizarro Broadgate, Pizarro and José Pizarro The Swan Inn, while he has also published a line of regional Spanish cookbooks and is a regular face on our TV screens. Earlier this year, José opened his first restaurant outside the UK: José by Pizarro, at the Conrad Hilton in Abu Dhabi.