60 Seconds With Dave Piccioni

Dave Piccioni was head of highly influential dance label Azuli Records and led the international DJ life, plying his trade in clubs throughout the world. Having decided to wind down that chapter of his life he invested in Amante, one of Ibiza's cool eating spots where the menu is as breathtaking as the view. Essential Ibiza caught up with him for a quick chat...

You've been an integral part of the island, hosting Azuli label parties over the years, where did the idea come from to open a restaurant?

I didn't really want to be in the restaurant business but I've had a house for many years very close to the site of Amante and I used to go down there all the time to recover from the nights in the clubs. I always loved the look of the place and I always wanted to buy it. While I was winding down my DJing and record company work I decided to use my savings and buy the place.

No regrets?

No, none at all, it's much harder work than I expected but I love it.

How would you describe Amante?

A modern, rustic, tranquil hideaway.

What kind of clientele does it attract?

Very mixed actually, from the cool, older dance generation who have moved on a bit to real food lovers.

How close have you come to realising your initial aspirations for Amante?

We've come very close to realizing them in terms of the quality of the food, the environment and the atmosphere of the place. I think we're in one of the most beautiful spots in Ibiza. What I did want to do was provide alternative kinds of music to people in terms of maybe live stuff or events, which had non dance music, there's a real lack of non dance music related events, even though there are a lot of people on the island with a real appreciation for music in general. That remains more of a long-term objective really.

Has your background in running parties on the island equipped you in any way for opening the restaurant?

It has in a marketing way, running a record company and DJing is all about marketing and PR and that was one of the first things I realized that was needed for Amante, along with the sprucing up of the food and the aesthetic of the place. Also, DJing gave me the realisation that it's an international market. You can't be an English restaurant or a French restaurant; you have to cater for all different nationalities.

How do you like the change of pace between hosting a party and owning a restaurant?

With DJing or promoting, you work your ass off promoting the party or you turn up and play for a few hours, make some money then you go home and you rest. With the restaurant it's relentless. I've seen me in the restaurant from ten in the morning until two in the morning, so it's quite different. Then again it's only four months of the year so you do get some time off.

Are you a closet Jamie Oliver?

No, I leave the food to the food experts. Generally you'll find me on the floor, if things go wrong I can happily deal with it

What's your favourite dish on the menu?

Arroz Negro, it's rice with squid and I've been told by a few people that it's the best they've had on the island, so that's quite a compliment.