THE GOURMET profile
Andy Tan of Poco Loco Beach Restaurant:
SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY WORDS MARISA CUTILLAS PHOTOGRAPHY © KHPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK
“T
his is work,” smiles Andy Tan, as he sits by a palm tree on the decked terrace of cool beachfront restaurant, Poco Loco. Always upbeat, brimming over with energy and excited about the new dishes he has dreamed up, Andy has been helming the kitchens at Poco Loco for a couple of years now, after moving to Marbella from Ireland with his wife and two sons. Andy, whose father (also a Chef) hails from Hong Kong and whose mum is Irish, had previously run four restaurants successfully in Ireland, but, when the recession hit, he chose to make a new start in Marbella, a land he had always loved and used to visit various times a year with his family. “Marbella impressed me because of the variety of its cuisine and the fact that there are people here from all nations,” he says. Andy had always dreamed of bringing something new to Marbella, but it was not until he met Poco Loco’s owner, Kulis Miliatis, that he found the vital spark to start afresh in the culinary world. “Kulis and I clicked from the very beginning,” he says, “Both of us were keen to offer a different dining experience, where dishes were made with fresh, seasonal products of the very best quality.” Poco Loco serves up a lovely mix of
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Asian and Mediterranean influences and is famed for its original Asian Tapas Night (every Friday), where regulars go crazy for dishes like dimsums, Peking-style ribs or Andy’s famous crispy chicken wings. The restaurant truly is a labour of love for both Andy and Kulis, who is also an accomplished chef. Kulis’s talents shine on Greek Night (every Thursday), when he whips up traditional treats like dolmades (stuffed vine leaves), Greek salads and tasty meat dishes. Thursday is actually Andy’s day off but don’t be surprised if you see him sitting on the terrace on that day: “Kulis always asks me what I’m doing here on Thursdays and I tell him, ‘Hey! I ’m enjoying my Gyros!’” On a non-themed night, the menu of Poco Loco can best be described as international, serving up everything from fresh fish and seafood to juicy Angus steaks and snacks and salads. Expect to find choices as eclectic as a vegetable wok, Italian antipasto and a warm wonton soup on the menu. “I love to eat,” says Andy, “and I take my inspiration from all the places I visit.” His dining sanctuaries are plentiful; some on the Costa del Sol and others as far as Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. “My Dad lives around half and hour
from Hong Kong. Home is so close to all these other Asian countries too so I make it a point to soak in as much of these culinary traditions as I can. Asian cuisine gives me so many ideas for tapas; I’m constantly making new things and I love seeing people’s reactions to what I cook.” Poco Loco is a revered getaway in the summer, with hammocks on the beach and a spacious dining area on its chic terrace, but its warm interior, with beautifully dressed tables and elegant, wintery colours, is equally popular in the cooler months. This season, foodies can look forward to wholesome, traditional homemade soups, stews and pot dishes, which soothe the soul on even the chilliest of days and nights. From December 21 to 26, watch out for Andy’s special Christmas menu. For just €42, diners will enjoy
a glass of sparkling wine and a fourcourse menu with a choice of two starters (a hearty beef goulash soup or a prawn cocktail with smoked salmon), two mains (steamed black tiger prawns in roasted garlic, served with wok vegetables and jasmine rice or traditional turkey and ham with stuffing, veg, etc), two desserts (Christmas pudding or Andy’s famous Baileys cheesecake), plus coffee or tea. New Year’s Eve is another big event at Poco Loco; enjoy a welcoming glass of mulled wine and a four-course dinner menu for just €52. Choose from three starters, three main dishes and three desserts! Highlights include the tender lobster served with salad leaves and a hint of coriander and the roast duck breast with baby potatoes. Andy and Kulis make a dynamic team, their passion for hearty, delicious, internationally inspired food blending in beautifully with their incessant search for new ways to make their customers happy. This combined with Poco Loco’s reasonable prices makes it the ideal spot to get away and enjoy the finer things in life, like a cool glass of white wine and some tapas as you watch the sun set alongside the most important people in your life. e
g Open daily from 10am ‘til late. Costabella, Playa Hermosa, CN340, km 189, Marbella. Tel: 952 836 170. www.poco-loco-beach.com 10/24/12 10:34 AM