Community Spirit, Sept 2018

Cacao cake
Inside eating area at Zaitune
Richard: “How do you get inspired
for food ideas for your kitchen?”
Somar: “Well from family, friends
and traveling experiences mainly.
when I go travelling to places like
India for example, I usually go to
the local restaurants, not touristy
ones. To experience the real food
of the country. I want them to
surprise me somehow with the
taste, I really want to taste
something exotic and then I get
inspired!”
Richard: “Well it seems to be
working because your food does
taste exotic and what you are
serving does seem to stand out
from your competitors.”
Somar: “Thanks man. This was the
point as well, because I was in the
process of creating a totally new
concept, so I wanted it to taste and
feel different. I am a very social
person, I love to meet people and I
love to go travelling. I am used to
the nomadic lifestyle and I really
enjoy it to be honest. It keeps things
fresh and you learn a lot from new
cultures.”
“I wanted the whole concept to stand out
and feel different. When you come here,
for example, we don’t have waiters
serving you. Instead we explain what is
on the menu and then give you a pen. You
can tick the boxes of what you want on
the menu and then give it to us. Of course
we have waiters to serve the food, but
the attention is not focused on the client
all the time, rather it is about letting the
client feel comfortable and relaxed as if
they were at home.”
“The attention of the main energy is on
the food and the experience for the
clients. We like to joke and play a lot with
our clients to break the ice and have fun
with them. We like people to come here
and enjoy their time with us!”
Richard: “So you are relaxed about the
way people can eat the food as well?”
Somar: “Yes, it’s sandwiches, starters and
salads. So the salad you can eat with a
fork, the starters you can eat with bread
and dip it into a sauce and the sandwiches,
well you just eat that with your hands man!”
“It’s like a lot of friends all hanging out
together in a very casual place having fun. I
notice that a lot of clients start mingling
together even though they aren’t sitting on
the same table. If it was very formal and
luxurious they most probably wouldn’t dare
to do that, but here the vibe of the place just
invites people to open up and chat with their
neighbours.”
“At the far end there is a social area with
high tables and stools. It’s really setup for
people who want to meet new people and
share conversations whilst have their
dinner. Valencia is special in that way as it is
a very social city and people like to relax and
enjoy their food before they move on to
their next destination.”
Richard: “Actually, in a small space you have
a lot of different options you can offer
customers, from a social bar area, to a more
individual relaxed area, to the outdoor
terraced area and even a take-away
service!”