10 Things I Hate About You ft. Juan Pescador (METL)

We met Juan Pescador, a Mexican chef, his partner in business (and life), Oriana Abzueta Unda, who is Venezuelan, and their son, Gael, over lunch at a friend’s house outside the city. They made us an ensalada rusa and a refried bean stew slow-simmered in pork lard, and we were instantly obsessed. Later, we discovered that my surname (Visser) and Juan’s (Pescador) both translate to “fisherman”—destiny (and friendship) sealed.

Juan and Oriana first made a name for themselves with pop-up dinners across Spain and Europe before opening their own brick-and-mortar restaurant: METL Cocina Mexicana. A year in, it’s become one of our go-to spots to take friends when they visit Barcelona. The fish taco, tuna tostada, and tamale are untouchable, and Lily swears their Paloma is the best in town—which, coming from the Paloma Queen, is saying something.

Juan’s thoughts:

1.  Something you’re into right now

Asian food and culture. Also, fish skills: manipulation, filletting, and treating it properly when it comes to a good quality product.

2.  Something you’re not into right now

Shitty food and shitty people.

3.  Song you’re listening to at the moment

Crust - Flying Lotus

4.  What’s your favourite drink?

Campari Soda.

5.  Who was your childhood crush?

It was Charlotte Casiraghi and Jennifer Connelly, jajajajja... and Björk... and Beth Gibbons, hahaha.

6.  What’s your favourite restaurant (besides your own, haha)?

La Cova Fumada, but please don’t go, hahaha.

7.  One thing you can’t go without

My Yeti 36oz insulated bottle.

8.  Guilty pleasure

 Kebab.

9.  Go-to snack

Pistachios.

10.  Last thing you searched on your phone (screenshot if possible)

A hipster coffee machine: Moccamaster (we ended up buying it at Lidl for 78€, hahaha).