A COUPLE have opened their dream restaurant in Kendal, promising excellent quality produce and a relaxed environment to enjoy Spanish flavours.

Alba Basterra and Simon Perkin are the duo behind Comida Food, a new establishment on Highgate that offers classic tapas dishes as well as sweet treats.

The couple originally moved from London to Burton-in-Kendal to open a B&B. However, five years and one baby later they decided they wanted a change.

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"We always wanted to set up a restaurant or a cafe and it seemed the time to change and sell the B&B," Simon explained.

"Comida means food. Essentially we're called 'food food'. We were just going to call it Comida but then we thought: 'What if people don't know they can get food here!'"

On the menu customers will find classic tapas such as patatas bravas and Spanish omelette as well as chorizo and cured meats.

"We've introduced some less well known things like octopus which might be a new taste for a lot of people," Alba explained.

"I'm from Valencia so I wanted to bring a bit of that in the restaurant. I'm very passionate about my Valencian heritage so we have some special dishes from Valencia which many people might not know but they're delicious, so I think people will really like them."

"For me it's what I'm used to and I like not having to go to one place to eat. You can just pop in and have one tapas and a drink with a friend and then go to another place and have another tapas and a another drink with another friend."

There will also be paella on offer, takeaway offerings, cakes, coffee from Atkinsons in Lancaster, craft Spanish beer and Spanish wines.

Ingredients have been sourced from Basco, a Spanish food suppliers based in Harrogate.

"For me it's the sharing of dishes and not having to make your mind up about what you want," Simon said, explaining why he liked Spanish food.

When it comes to the interior, the couple have tried to do as much by themselves as they can. Simon built the bar and his dad made the tables.

The restaurant, which opened on Thursday (July 27), will be open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am-6pm serving breakfast and lunch.

The pair hope that once they get the correct licence for longer hours they will be serving hot food in the evening and be open seven days a week.