Elephant, Crocodile, Monkey

Inés and Estanis Carenzo met in Madrid. When she stumbled into one of his restaurants, it was love at first bite. Some time after, Estanis received a call from Inés asking him to build something with her. The product was Elephant, Crocodile, Monkey, a Vietnamese tavern at the Hotel Casa Bonay.

Food is a science and nobody knows this better than Carenzo, originally from Argentina and with a history in biology. His training in earth sciences has affected the direction in which his kitchen moves. Carenzo reinterprets typical Vietnamese plates to find a balance between taste and caloric intake.

The chef spent three months exploring the art of Asian gastronomy. It was this trip that inspired the name of the restaurant. Elephant, crocodile and monkey were the three animals Carenzo stumbled upon during his exploration of the Thai forest.

We recommend the algae butter, el Nem Rán (rolls of pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and pickles in a fish sauce), or the star of the summer: bo bun (rice noodles served cold with vegetables; a perfect alternative to a salad.) If soups are for you, the famous hot pho is served with beef, rice noodles and fresh herbs. Finish your meal with chocolate and ice cream or opt for something lighter like pineapple prepared with star anise. And, of course, everything pairs well with a homemade Vietnamese lemonade.

Elephant, Crocodile, Monkey will leave you saying, “Hẹn gặp lại!” or “until next time!”