Barlata

Tapas, paella & more Spanish fare served with a broad wine list in a lively industrial-chic space.

Vanessa Jerez came up with the playful name Barlata, which translates as the can bar. Integral to the tapas culture are latas, small tins of gourmet, ready-to-eat vegetables, meat, and seafood, preserved in brine. In tapas bars, they are often sold alongside the food that's been made in-house.

Rather than serve canned food, Olivella cooks a number of traditional lata dishes, such as squid in its own ink, then serves them in fresh tins.

“This is my only career,” says Olivella, who brings with him thirty-five years of accolades and experience. “I'm secure with what I do, and I try to have fun with it.”