Sambombi

19th – 23rd March

Tucked away on a quiet corner of Medellín’s Provenza neighbourhood is the must-try restaurant from chef-patron Jhon Zárate. Despite the name translating modestly to ‘popular cuisine’, Sambombi is a Colombian bistro not only serving food worthy of a place in Latin America’s 50 Best, but one that takes hyperlocality to a new level.

Jhon spent his formative years in pioneering kitchens like Bolivia’s Gustu and Copenhagen’s Relæ, before putting down roots in Medellín. Here he has refined his simple but rigorous approach to cooking, reflected in classics like ‘snapper crudo, aubergine purée, ponzu, furikake’; ‘grilled mushrooms, candied egg yolk’; and ‘pickled sea bass, harissa mayo, jalapeño arepas’ that have seen the restaurant live up to its sambombi billing. Jhon is also a qualified sommelier and curates a wine list focused on old world, low-intervention vintages rotating almost as frequently as his dishes. 

With an airy dining room housing only seven tables and bookended by huge tropical plants, Sambombi is Zárate’s tribute to Antioquian produce and producers. Melding Colombia’s natural pantry with techniques from his distinguished international career, weekly changing menus feature ingredients grown exclusively by local Medellín farmers, ensuring that the whole community benefits.

If contemporary Colombian is a new one for you, there’s no better way to jump in. Don’t miss it.