The start of the month saw me flying out to Spain to do my live show. A 4.30am start and a run-in with the Easy-jet check-in person didn’t manage to dampen my spirits, and three and half-hours later landed in Malaga ready for the evening’s show in Cartama, which I found to be exceptionally warming.
After the show, my mate John drove me to the hotel in Marbella. We stepped straight back into the 70s. Everything was orange, and I am not just talking about the guests. We were caught in a time warp and couldn’t get a drink after 11.30pm. Thank goodness it was only for the weekend!
The hotel manager refused to change my Sterling into Euros, as did the three banks I subsequently tried. After a rather animated discussion with the hotel manager, we discovered that, due to the interest rates fluctuating by the hour, everyone was scared to change currency in case they miscalculated the rate. The manager was persuaded to change some of our cash and we eventually started our search of the local area for a place to eat lunch, and what a search it turned out to be.
If Marbella holds a place for the elite, with their champagne swigging and outrageous posing, then believe me, oh please believe me, I have found a gem hidden in the hills. It’s called Andy’s Bar. The name doesn’t promise much, but after a fairly unpromising start in Spain, Andy’s Bar turned out to be a real oasis in the desert. Perched overlooking a valley and out to the coast beyond, Andy’s Café / Restaurant was stylish, cool and sits literally head and shoulders above the rest. We were immediately greeted by Marinella’s outrageous smile and made to feel so welcome, I suddenly realised that I was on holiday and instantly relaxed.
After such a welcome the quality of the food would hardly have mattered but as Marinella guided us through the extensive menu of mouth-watering food prepared by the charming French chef Pierre we sensed that we were in for a treat. We were recommended to try the excellent value menu del-dia. The Gazpacho was flavoursome and cooling and completely delightful. I followed this with a simple chicken salad, which turned out to be anything but. Pierre is in love with food as is demonstrated with every forkful. After the chicken had valiantly given up its life for me; I didn’t want the food to stop. The Caramel Flan was to die for! Pierre had reeled us in hook, line and sinker and we immediately booked a table for dinner. I walked out into the afternoon sunshine feeling like the red carpet had been rolled out and had given me that royal smile.
Dinner was amazing. Avocado & prawn salad and wonderful seafood stuffed piquillo peppers to start followed by my old favourite Tournedos Rossini. Tender beef filled with Peter’s own recipe pate melted in the mouth and sent me home with a feeling that I had just reached Nirvana. With Venus in Taurus, experiences such as these are important to me. I have been invited back to perform my show in September. I have accepted on the condition that there is time in the schedule for another trip to Andy’s bar.
I urge you to share my experience. Andy’s Café – Restaurant, Urb. Reserva De Marbella. Fase 2. Las Chapas, Marbella. Tel: 951 310 947
