Michelin-star chef serious about his Spanish tapas, but can't get enough of dim sum

For Spanish Michelin-star chef Alejandro Sanchez, tapas in Spain is like dim sum in Hong Kong.

'You can sit back and eat tapas with friends in a very casual atmosphere. Food comes in smaller portions, so you can try many different dishes for one meal. And oh, you eat with your hands,' said the 32-year-old, one of the youngest chefs in Spain to have been awarded a Michelin star last year.

Sanchez was in town last week to do food tasting with the media at his newly-opened tapas bar Mesa 15 in Hollywood Road. Taking over the space where Starbucks used to be, the cosy restaurant also opened up an attic for more seating.

Sanchez is aware of soaring rents in Soho and competition from tapas restaurants in the area but is optimistic about business. 'I come from this small town Almeria, it's the closest to Africa in Europe,' he said. 'I want to bring the traditional southern Spanish [food] here.'

The hip chef, donning a pair of white Prada shades, prepared bite-size dishes such as baby-rib burger, slow-cooked crispy suckling pig and a raspberry mousse with pop rocks for sampling before taking off for dinner with his team.

Sanchez has also brought the dim sum concept to Spain. 'I can't stop eating xiao long bao. It's seriously good. I'm making it in my restaurant in Spain.'