When adventure becomes business

COSTA DEL SOL, Spain -You`ve fantasized about quitting your job, moving to the tropics and starting a business. Everyone has at one time or another. But what sets Jeong Bae and Daniel Scannell apart from most is that they actually went through with it.

Amistad is the Spanish word for friendship, and so an appropriate name for an expat bar on the Costa del Sol. Expat bars on the Spanish coast are ten-a-penny, but there are not too many that are run by the likes of Scannell and Bae.

"I got sick of working for other people and wanted a creative outlet. The beauty of Spain, the culture and life by the sea were all incredible influences and I felt this was a viable way to showcase my life experiences and talents," said Scannell.

Scannell, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, immigrated to Korea in December 2006, where he met and married Bae. Although his background was primarily in hospitality, like many, he came to Korea as a teacher. His plan had been to make enough money to open a restaurant in the United States, but then fate intervened in the form of love and marriage, followed by the mortgage crisis in the United States.

With Bae on board, Scannell was not about to let a little thing like a world financial crisis slow him down, so they looked at alternative options.



Bae spent some time in Malaga a few years back, and so the couple packed up and headed to Spain. With Amistad, the couple has adopted for a fusion approach to their cuisine, which in one sense tailors to the diversity of their clientele, while at the same time offers something unique to the area. So far things are going well, although Scannell hopes that some family will visit from Korea soon, as he is struggling to find the right ingredients for his Korean dishes.

"Everyone who has tried our food has sung its praises, but a lot do just want their English breakfast, Sunday roast or Spanish tapas. We offer a unique alternative on the Costa del Sol," he said.

Bae said they are trying to create a multinational, relaxing environment that people of all places can mesh, relax and enjoy. "We feel we have a young, artistic, creative feel to our food and atmosphere and try to introduce people to new things in our culinary, art and even music offerings," she added.

Her husband said from a business perspective, it`s a clean, inviting, relaxing place to chill with good food, a large selection of drinks and a comforting atmosphere. "The biggest thing for us and most our clients, however, is the people. People of all nationalities, ages and walks of life," he said. "Although we have had only one Korean visitor, we hope to have more."

Costa del Sol is so beautiful, it is often compared to a Picasso painting. "Look at a Picasso, Goya, Dali - there is some thread that holds them together. The clear air, stark sunlight, Mediterranean sea. Iberico Jamon, Manchego cheese, Rioja wine - there is a lot to love," said Scannell.

Away from work, Bae, an artist herself, "adores the crisp sun and colors the landscape provides," she said. Malaga, which is nearby, is the birthplace of one of Spain`s most famous sons, Pablo Picasso.

"The way the light, sea, mountains interact are very inspiring. At the same time, it is a bit stark in contrast to Korea`s diversity of flora and weather," Bae said.

The language barrier and the bureaucracy of the Spanish system have provided some frustrations for the couple, but with the business up and running, they are over the worst and Scannell hopes they will get to grips with the language, too.

For Bae, leaving Korea was a natural progression for her adventurous spirit, but she admits to missing, "rain, mom`s food, family and good friends."

Scannell hopes that with the success of the business and their integration into Spanish culture that the Amistad adventure will be a long term one. For Bae, her hopes away from business relate to her art, and so far she is finding Spanish life inspiring.

"From Korea, we miss the convenience of things and safety. Living and running a business in a resort area, you find most people are transient and relationships come and go too quickly. Still, in our short time here we have met and made some really good friends," the couple said.

To contact Scannell, e-mail danielpscannell@yahoo.com and go to www.amistadbar.com for more information on Amistad.





To contribute a story idea to Koreans Living Abroad, e-mail mattlamers@heraldm.com - Ed.



By Eoghan Ryan and Matthew Lamers