Panko
Iberico on Tomato Toast
Carbonara Torta
Pastel Crema
Torrejas with Caramel Ice Cream
Waking earlier than anticipated, American Thanksgiving planned around a double feature of Arzak and Akelarre, the concept of laying in bed seemed pointless on Thursday morning and with a great gym session under my belt I made my way to rain-soaked streets in search of breakfast, Pasteleria Suiza not yet open and thus allowing for a visit to nearby Panko, a sizable restaurant that is about as “American” as Bilbao gets.
Heavily wooded and offering free WiFi, a great place to linger, meet friends, or get work done, Panko offers three meals a day both from the kitchen and in the form of pintxos, the menu running a gamut from salads to foie gras, even my request for postre at 08h00 granted without a second thought.
Not particularly busy on a Thursday, though rumors of weekend brunches being jammed packed, it was at the bar that seating was selected and chatting with the barman about his recommendations it was with good fortune that our palates seemed similar, a slice of bread from their bakery offered first with a brushing of tomato and a generous slice of nutty red ham.
Passing on American-style pancakes, one of two I’d see in all of Northeast Spain, it was onto a warm “Carbonara” torta that breakfast progressed, a melted layer of Parmigiano-Reggiano and chopped Parsley overlying the potato and egg pie studded with pepper and pancetta.
Falling bit short in the custard cake, the center simply too firm, it was with the aforementioned French Toast that the meal concluded, the center warm and wet with the outside seared golden, the caramel quenelle quick to melt and soak-in while pooling beneath whipped cream.
http://pankobilbao.com/