Gabriel Zapata
Co-chef and co-founder of Bacira, the Mediterranean-Asian fusion restaurant in Madrid's Chamberí neighborhood that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
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Gabriel Zapata is one of three co-chefs and co-founders of Bacira, a Mediterranean-Asian fusion restaurant in Madrid's Chamberí neighborhood that holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Chilean by origin, he moved to Spain in 2006 and worked at Wasabi and Sushi House in Mallorca and at Nikkei 225 and Distrito 798 in Madrid before co-founding Bacira on July 10, 2014, with fellow Nikkei 225 colleagues Carlos Langreo and Vicente de la Red.
Biography
Early years
Zapata got into cooking in Chile, his home country, where he also had his first contact with Japanese cuisine. After working in several Japanese restaurants there, he moved to Spain in 2006 to broaden his culinary experience.
Career
In Spain he worked as a sushiman at Wasabi and Sushi House in Palma de Mallorca, then in Madrid at Nikkei 225 and Distrito 798. At Nikkei 225 he met Carlos Langreo and Vicente de la Red, and the three opened Bacira together on July 10, 2014, in Madrid's Chamberí neighborhood. The trio runs the kitchen as equal partners rather than under one head chef; Zapata has described their process as decisions always being made by all three ("las decisiones siempre se toman entre tres").
Philosophy
Bacira's menu blends Mediterranean products with Japanese and nikkei technique, drawing on Zapata's background as a sushiman. He and his co-chefs have described themselves as sponges ("esponjas") who absorb good ideas from their whole team when designing new dishes.
Restaurants
On Guidavera
1Gabriel Zapata in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Gabriel Zapata’s restaurants.
Accolades
- ·Michelin Bib Gourmand, Bacira (Madrid)
- ·Repsol Recomendado, Bacira (Madrid)
Frequently asked
Does Gabriel Zapata have a Michelin star?
No. Zapata co-chefs Bacira in Madrid, which holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand rather than a star.
Where does Gabriel Zapata cook?
At Bacira, in Madrid's Chamberí neighborhood, which he runs together with co-chefs Carlos Langreo and Vicente de la Red.
What kind of food does Gabriel Zapata cook?
Bacira's menu blends Mediterranean and Asian cooking, drawing on Zapata's background in Japanese and Nikkei kitchens in Mallorca and Madrid.
Is Gabriel Zapata the only chef at Bacira?
No. Bacira is run by three co-chefs and co-founders: Gabriel Zapata, Carlos Langreo, and Vicente de la Red.
Where is Gabriel Zapata from?
He's Chilean. He got into cooking, and into Japanese cuisine, in Chile before moving to Spain in 2006 to keep building his career.
Where did Gabriel Zapata train before Bacira?
As a sushiman at Wasabi and Sushi House in Palma de Mallorca, then at Nikkei 225 and Distrito 798 in Madrid, where he met his future Bacira co-founders.
When did Gabriel Zapata open Bacira?
On July 10, 2014, together with Carlos Langreo and Vicente de la Red, the three having previously worked together at Nikkei 225.