Spanish & European cuisine, coffee & culture

Our story

Our vision is to bring a taste of Spanish and French influence and create a unique coffee and tapas bar in the heart of Bendigo.

Husband and wife team Chad and Haley Aldred took ownership of El Gordo in September 2015 and injected their vision of an authentic and vibrant Spanish laneway cafe and tapas bar into the venue.

Living in the south of France in 2009, the couple immersed themselves into daily life and culture, traveling into Spain and the Basque region to further absorb the region’s food, tapas, wine and celebration of Spanish Mediterranean life.

With a combined 35 years cooking experience, both Chad and Haley boast enviable resumes and exceptional Kitchen training. Chad trained at Blake’s Southgate, also spending 5 years as the executive Chef at the acclaimed restaurant and winery Paringa Estate in Mornington Peninsula. Haley worked for 4 years at The Point in Albert Park and at Melbourne’s well known Spanish restaurant Basque in Prahran.