Ana Cabo, B.For by Planet Sushi
A super-slick operation like B.For by Planet Sushi ticks all the five-star boxes – beautiful location, amazing design, superior service and the highest quality food, and at the helm is dynamic director, Ana Cabo. With her finger on the fast-beating pulse of Ibiza, 24/7 she ensures this sushi sensation is oh-so-much more than the sum of its parts.
When did you first come to Ibiza?
I first came to Ibiza in 1996 – I came here on holidays a lot. I’m from Barcelona and I’ve lived in the US, in the Caribbean, Paris, Italy but I just loved the spirit of the island and knew that eventually, I would end up here. I had to learn about the rest of the world first! Now I live here all year and I am totally happy.
What is it about the island that you love so much?
You can really be yourself here. You can live your life the way you want to, not how society or family conditions you to. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how much money you have… It’s unpredictable here, so many twists and turns. Here what matters is who you really are….
How do you manage to keep a big operation like B.For running so smoothly amidst the unpredictable nature of Ibiza?
I have to be organised, firm and cool – and choose the very best staff. It’s a hard job, there are long hours and many temptations in Ibiza, but the client, the restaurant and the service always comes first. After that, everyone can party – including me – but it is all about quality service and treating everyone like a VIP. The first year was really tough – I gave up a lot of things to really make it work, but it paid off.
Do you get a lot of VIPs at B.For?
Actually, it’s a wide range of people, starting from families with young children to models, actors, DJs – we get ALL the DJs – and people who have traveled and know the reputation and quality of our food. We have the pleasure and honour of welcoming many famous people, but we treat everyone like equals.
Tell us a bit about your background before B.For?
My background is in hospitality, I started working in clubs in Barcelona (I was even a DJ once!) and then moved onto a restaurant in Manhattan, then my own bar in Saint Martin (French West Indies) for two years.
A DJ! Does this mean you influence the music at B.For?
Yes - music is very important here. I love music, but we are not trying to be a club, just a nice restaurant with good sound, good music and good food. Our music isn’t to make you dance, if you’re sitting at your table, eating your sushi and you start moving your head, or your chopsticks, well, I love seeing that!
Is there a lot of competition with other restaurants in Ibiza?
We are all connected and work together. I always recommend the places I go to - it’s important for me to go out and see other places to know what’s going on too. We understand tourists won’t come here every night. Ibiza is all about relationships. They say the whole world has six degrees of separation – imagine what it’s like on a small island!