CALL IT PABÚ, CALL IT HOME
The talk of the town is no other than Pabú! Bursting with personality from its high-end, plant-based food with a French soul, all the way down to the little details in the decor. The gorgeous antique tables? Second hand auctioned. The food? All about micro-seasons (basically using produce at its absolute peak of freshness). Every ingredient is carefully chosen, traceable back to a trusted supplier who’s always just a call away. When dinning at Pabú, you can expect the veggies to take centre stage, proteins to play a supporting role, and textures are everything.
Pabú is located in Madrid, led by chef Ignacio “Coco” Montes, who was trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and worked for six years under chef Alain Passard. The name Pabú comes from a family nickname, which makes sense because the whole place feels like stepping into Coco’s home. From the open kitchen that lets you peek through a glass floor, granite countertops from Cadalso de los Vidrios, to the woodwork by Coco’s own family carpenter. The wine cellar at the back was also designed by Coco himself and the wine list counts over 250 bottles from all over the world but forget regions or grape types, instead, it was organised by Coco’s loved ones, into categories like “Wrapped in Bubbles,” “Golden as the Sun,”and “Under the Rain.”
The menu is just as alive and bustling, as it literally changes every day. Pabú is all about savouring the moment, the instant even meaning no freezers (making an exception for ice cream) and no microwaves. Here everything is cooked traditionally, all eight daily dishes served as a highly curated tasting menu or à la carte. Nothing is left to chance, especially not bread and desserts. As the inhouse bakery makes fresh bread daily, and desserts, thanks to Coco’s pastry training in Paris they all have that signature ‘je ne sais quoi’.
Pabú is Coco’s first solo project, and honestly? No wonder it has acquired a Michelin star in no time, for it is one of the most exciting openings of the year and one that we will keep revisiting.
