Tomato bread 

Steak with cheese and caramelised onions

Boquerones

The first bottle of sherry

Huge and yummy prawns

Patatas bravos

Chefs at work and the rather odd tortillas

The Jamon.......ohhhhhh the jamon. 

Chorizo and picos

Lunch on the last day of the 'soft' opening of Jose (31st May I'm afraid folks), a new tapas joint on Bermondsey Street, SE1. This soft opening is a new (and rather rude sounding) concept to me, but very welcome, as it entails 50% off the bill. 

The place is tiny, with only 30 covers, and was rather busy, considering it wasn't even officially open yet. We started off with a bottle of sherry (there were 6 of us) and ordered up some tapas. I realised halfway through that I am destined never to make any money from food writing as a) I am so greedy that everything was 'fabulous' initially and b) I was so busy scoffing that I forgot to take photos until halfway through. So I'm afraid you don't get to see the tortillas, the pisto with duck egg, or the albondigas (meatballs). Sorry. 

So, what of the food? Some of the tapas was outstanding - the huge prawns, the fat, oily boquerones, those meatballs in their tomatoey luscious sauce. And some was decidedly so-so, the tomato bread wasn't all that and the tortillas needed to be served warm. But I forgive them all this for one reason and one reason alone. The Jamon. The Jamon Iberico Manuel Maldonado. Initially we didn't order this, but having asked for the bill and received it, we decided to have 'seconds' and ordered another bottle of sherry and a plate of ham. The ham alone was worth the visit. Rich, meaty, fatty, melt in the mouth ham. Go to Jose, order a selection of tapas - the menu changes daily. But make sure you have the Jamon. And ask the adorable waitress for her number - my brother chickened out of doing so.