JB: What brought you and when to the UK and what was your early employment?

JP I worked in a few restaurants in Madrid but I just had this feeling that London could be my home. I was lucky enough to work at Gaudi, and then I started working at the brilliant Eyre Brothers before going on to found Brindisa.

JB: First impressions of the UK when you arrived?

JP: Friendly, warm, happy, and like it was on the cusp of a big foodie revolution.

JB: Who do you owe your love of Spanish cooking to?

JP: My Mum, Isabel. When she was in the kitchen it was her quiet time away from us noisy kids. I was permanently being banished from there as she cooked away – lamb, tortilla, eggs, her perfect chips. Every time I go home I eat like a king.

JB: How has been gastronomy in the UK evolved over the last 25 years?

JP: It’s come on leaps and bounds! London has always been incredible for restaurants, but it’s really in the last 25 years that sourcing, provenance, plant-based and love of good meat has come into its own. Also, a celebration of all that the UK has to offer.

JB: Summarise the high points of your time in the UK.

JP: It’s got to be when I opened my first two restaurants, José and Pizarro. José opened about a year after I left Brindisa, and my heart still swells every time I walk into it. It’s my happy place. Pizarro – ditto. When I see my guests happy, eating, drinking, and not wanting to go home it makes me the happiest man alive!

JB: What variety of venue do you offer?

JP: A real mix of vibes: arty (Royal Academy), buzzy (José), elegant and fun (Pizarro), bustling and classy (Broadgate) and super relaxed (The Swan, Esher).

JB: Your favourite cook book?

JP Anything by the amazing Claudia Roden. I love Med. It’s beautiful!

JB: Your ideal clientele?

JP: Every customer is hugely valuable to me, but the ones who love food and like hearing my stories about my dishes have got to be my favourites!

JB: Lingering post-Brexit and post-Covid challenges and how you have overcome them?

JP: They were dark days! We quickly pivoted
and created a massive online business – a shop and delivery service. We also partnered with Dishpatch with whom we still work today. With regards to Brexit, it’s a horrible amount of red tape but we have made it work without too much damage.

JB: Your best holiday?

JP: One of the best holidays I’ve ever had was to the Maldives recently. I’ve never seen sand so white or sea so crystal clear. I was in paradise.

JB: Your favourite musician?

JP: I couldn’t possibly choose one – I love so many different kinds!

JB: Your idea of relaxation?

A gentle Sunday with my partner, Peter, with our gorgeous dogs Conche and Pie. Followed by a relaxing pub lunch or lunch at one of my favourite restaurants, 45, Jermyn Street.

JB: What do you like best about London?

JP: The people, the value Londoners place on good things: food, wine, art, music and culture. It’s the best city in the world.

JB: Name one person you particularly value and why 

Apart from my beloved mother and my wonderful partner Peter I absolutely treasure Claudia Roden. Her gentle way and her beautiful books are incredibly special to me.

A Pizzaro restaurant is reviewed in this issue of La Revista