“Dr. Balsemão’s table”, at the Pabe restaurant, will be transformed into a space to pay homage to the founder of Expresso

On Expresso’s closing nights, still during the censorship of the Estado Novo, it was at Pabe, on the same street as the newspaper’s first headquarters, that Francisco Pinto Balsemão would sit down to “eat a steak and wait for the courier to arrive with the latest proofs” of the weekly newspaper. It was also in this restaurant and bar that he held many interviews, called “Lunches at Pabe” and meetings, always at the head of the same table, which ended up being named “Dr. Balsemão’s Table”, always reserved daily, until 1:30 pm, for the founder of the newspaper. Even further away from political life, and with Expresso’s headquarters already in Paço de Arcos, he continued to frequent Pabe “assiduously” until about a year ago.

Among Francisco Pinto Balsemão’s favorite dishes were theeiras, “Chicken Kiev”, “Steak with Roquefort sauce” and fruit, mainly melon.

Once the news of Francisco Pinto Balsemão’s death was known, the current owner of Pabe, Luís Espírito Santo, announced that he will soon put up a tribute plaque and that the space will be redecorated, with photographs of moments in Pinto Balsemão’s life, with the collaboration of Expresso’s photographic archive. Other ways to honor Francisco Pinto Balsemão are being prepared and will be announced in due course, Luís Espírito Santo told Boa Cama Boa Mesa.

Remember Pabe’s story and the connection to Expresso, based on the report prepared as part of the project “50 Years, 50 Restaurants”as part of the celebrations of Expresso’s 50th anniversary.