Every week Erica Lay, proprietor of EL CREW CO Worldwide Yacht Crew Company talks to a crew member who’s made the transition from engaged on yachts to a land based mostly position -effectively, from ship to shore, right here in Mallorca. For more information on any of our stars featured, you may contact Erica instantly on erica@elcrewco.com
This week I’m chatting to English ex Yacht Chef Simon Potter, who moved to Mallorca full time in 2015 along with his enterprise companion, ex Chief Stew Maria Giesbrecht. Collectively they run the profitable MOO MOO’S Steakhouse and Burger Bar in Portals Nous, within the Southwest of Mallorca.
What attracted you to the island? What do you want about dwelling right here?
We each got here right here while engaged on personal/constitution yacht and fell in love with Mallorca clearly the local weather was an enormous issue and the island is so various with nice seashores and a shocking mountain vary.
What’s the toughest factor about dwelling in Mallorca?
It’s not having the ability to watch my soccer crew (Manchester United) at their dwelling floor, aside from that I really like dwelling on the island.
How lengthy did you’re employed in yachting?
We each spent 5 years at sea engaged on motoryachts from 24 to 72m. We completely liked our time within the yachting business getting to go to many nations across the Mediterranean, Thailand, the Caribbean, and the USA however the spotlight was cruising the Vancouver islands in Canada.
Are you able to give me a abstract of your profession in your life earlier than yachting?
I labored at excessive finish institutions from a younger age starting from 5-star motels just like the Gleneagles Golf Resort, boutique nation home motels and Michelin starred eating places like The Fats Duck, The Walnut Tree, and Zafferano. I additionally labored in lots of personal villas. The spotlight for me was getting my first head chef’s job in a properly famend gastronomy pub in south Wales known as The Felin Fach Griffin the place I ran a crew of 5.
Have you ever cooked for any celebs?
I cooked for Sir Alex Ferguson and the G8 Summit after I was working at Gleneagles. And her at MOO MOO’S I cooked for Bryan Robson, the ex England and Man U Captain.
When/why did you determine it was time to maneuver ashore?
In 2015 we determined to maneuver ashore and open a restaurant, after 5 years touring the world on yachts working extraordinarily onerous we saved sufficient cash to purchase a enterprise.
How did you make the transfer, did you intend it or was it spontaneous? Did it’s a must to retrain/do programs/get residency and so forth?
We completed the constitution season in Thailand in April 2015, and made the choice rapidly to maneuver to Mallorca and seek for a restaurant. We utilized for the NIE and located a restaurant inside 2 months after an intense search.
What had been the challenges/hardest elements?
The largest problem discovering the proper restaurant in a superb space inside our funds.
What are the most effective issues about being land based mostly now?
One of the best factor about land based mostly now’s dwelling in an residence not a cabin
What do you miss about yachting and dealing as crew?
We obtained to see some superb and exquisite elements of the world, that’s positively missed. And dealing as half of a big crew with completely different nationalities.
What’s the most effective factor about your job? What do you take pleasure in most?
One of the best a part of the job is being your personal boss and likewise constructing a loyal buyer base.
What’s essentially the most difficult a part of your job?
Essentially the most difficult a part of the job is the seasonality. Operating a restaurant in the course of the off season may be difficult so we provide various things over winter like full Sunday roasts, we provide reductions for Palma Yacht Crew members, and likewise use The Fork.
What do you love to do if you’re not working?
Bike rides, strolling within the mountains and consuming out. I really like discovering good fish and Asian eating places.
What recommendation would you give to anybody seeking to make the transfer ashore from yachting?
For those who’re seeking to begin to your personal enterprise after yachting and particularly in Mallorca, do your due diligence totally, be ready financially and if you wish to achieve success be ready to work onerous.
The place do you see your self in 5 years? Nonetheless in Mallorca? What’s subsequent for you?
I hope to be right here in 5 years time and with one other MOO MOO’S in a unique location.
