One Costa del Sol chef who is starting to get everyone talking and gaining a significant following is Bruce Thery from Belgium. Sous chef at Cyrano, in La Cala de Mijas. Manning the grill, he is all about fire and passion for the food he sends out.
Only in Spain for 4 years, Bruce, like many, came to the Costa del Sol, fell in love with the place and its lifestyle, and decided to stay and make a name for himself here.
After quitting school at 16 to study hospitality, and gaining experience at a Michelin Star restaurant in Belgium, he says that preparing food, ‘has always been my life.’
On arrival in Spain, he found work at the Harbour in Marbella, and later The Playwright. He eventually met up with Tibbi Aquila who was setting up Cyrano and saw Bruce’s potential.
EWN: Fire’s important to you, I imagine.
Bruce: I’d say fire is 80 percent what inspires me.
As well as helping curate Cyrano’s menu, Bruce mans the grill right where all the diners can see his skills at work.
EWN: Where do you select your ingredients from?
Bruce: We get the best there is, whether it’s beef from Ireland, ribeye from Argentina, lamb from New Zealand, tuna from Cádiz, or the prawns – I have a special guy I know from Belgium who’s best for that.
EWN: Do you have a favourite on the menu?
Bruce: That’s difficult. When you cook the whole menu, all of it is special. But, perhaps for example I have these barbecue ribs that are selling like crazy with a home made Smokey bbq sauce.
EWN: What drives you?
Bruce: I’m driven by passion for food. I love what I do. Stress too. It’s like a form of anxiety. It keeps me on my toes.
All those hours at the grill, playing with fire have spilled into Bruce’s ethos, driving his passion for constant progression and perfection.
You can sample Bruce’s culinary fare at Cyrano: C. Torrox, 18, La Cala de Mijas. Telephone: 951 74 96 82
