A fast-food street-food venue in a shopping mall may seem an odd choice for the owners of the UK's only michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant. But the Gonzalez brothers have been living in the United Kingdom for over a decade, and as time passed, they realized the gold-mine they were sitting on.
“Let’s be honest, fish-and-chips isn’t the healthiest option on the market. It’s deep-fried food in a world where people are every day more aware of what they’re putting in their bodies,” Gabriel explained.
“Venezuelan food has a great plus. It’s made with ingredients everybody recognizes, which makes it less intimidating. People are going to see rice, beans, plantains, and beef, which provides a healthy food option.”
The menu at SABROSO! provides guests with a range of authentic dishes without breaking the bank. The restaurant’s signature dish is the arepa -round cornbread, cooked on the grill until crispy on the outside. It is stuffed with a variety of fillings to suit every palate-which is offered for a little less than £7.
The fillings include roasted shredded chicken, braised beef, pulled pork, or tofu with onion and tomato sofrito. For those gluten-allergic, you can fully customize the arepa with black beans, ripe plantains, roasted peppers, or avocado.
“People are curious about what we are serving. I mean, it’s Latin food being served at Westfield London while the world obsesses over reggeaton. It’s perfect timing!” Gonzalez assures. “We hand out samples constantly, and we are pleased to see more and more people becoming regulars. We can only hope to be the ones that place the arepa on the UK food radar. Right next to Mexican tacos, of course!”
The arepa has seen a rise in popularity in many European cities such as Madrid and Seville, which are seeing ‘areperas’ pop up.
But not everything in SABROSO! revolves around arepas. The Venezuelan restaurant also offers build-your-own ceviche bowls that add a hint of vivacity and freshness to the menu. Due to their extensive experience with ceviche, these bowls feature cured salmon, tuna or eggplant combined with fresh homemade toppings making it an exciting option for the more health-conscious. SABROSO! provides diners with the opportunity to customize their meals at every step.
Side dishes include Tequeños (crispy cheese pastries served with homemade mango chutney), Yuca Chips, or Beef Empanadas served with SABROSO! sauce. For dessert, Tres Leches (an airy sponge cake made with three different types of milk), and Alfajores (bite-sized dulce the leche shortbreads) are always available, which can be accompanied by fresh tropical juices.
“In 2020, we are planning on adding more typical Venezuelan fast foods to the menu. Hot dogs are an important pillar to our street food, and I think it’s something everybody must experience,” Gonzalez chuckles. “Venezuelans stack chips, pickles, ketchup, mayonnaise, and even fried plantains on their hotdogs! Londoners are intrigued whenever I try explaining this concept to them, so I’m sure it’s going to be a success.”
The Gonzalez brothers maintain close friendships with other Latin restaurant owners. According to Gabriel, they push each other to do better and thrive, leaving all sense of envy behind. “The Venezuelan community in London is pretty close-knit, and I hope that doesn’t change. We come from a country that’s struggling, and we all need emotional support, especially while living abroad. I think we all want to see each other succeed and be bountiful”.
Gabriel Gonzalez hopes to expand SABROSO! to other areas of London, but wants to ensure not to saturate the market.
“Our goal is to have multiple SABROSO! restaurants if there is demand. We'd rather take things slow and steady. Everything in due time”.
You can find Sabroso at Balcony Court Café, Westfield, London, W12 7GF
