Catering College Benahavis

by Morris Bishop
(San Pedro de Alcantara)

We had been meaning to visit the restaurant that is attached to the school for some time, however you first have to learn how this eatery works. On Monday’s and Wednesday’s the lunch service is a ‘Tasting menu’ with ‘Wine pairing’ designed to educate the eater as much as to give the student valuable practical experience. For the rest of the week, besides an a’la carte menu 28€, there are two tasting menus, a short one at 32€ ,or a long version at 38€

The school is run under the auspices of Sabor a Malaga (a taste of Malaga) and they teach all aspects of the industry, With a curriculum that is broadly divided into a two year course for chefs under head chef, Yolanda Hernandez, and a one year course for waiters. This latter covers not only the basic’s of service, but the skills of a sommelier, the experience of being a maître ’D, and in the latter stages, work experience in some local restaurants and hotels. In the mean time both chefs and waiters need to practice, and we are their willing subjects. Don’t ask what the menu consist of, just enjoy their imaginative offerings.

Our long tasting menu had about eight dishes , of which the more memorable ones were, a prawn salad prepared at the table by Lidia, our bright & friendly waitress, with a mango vinaigrette mixed with the greenery in a cocktail shaker, before being dressed with the king prawns and all manner of fishy things, a slow cooked, deboned pork chop with a barbeque sauce glaze, served with a swirl of creamed potato and baked celery, and a Crêpe Suzette, also prepared at the table by Rocia, under the watchful eye of maître ’D Mari Angeles. With each dish came a verbal description of what we were about to eat, and the whole experience was one of surprise and delight.

Assuming that you have a normal appetite, I suggest you starve yourself before attempting the long tasting menu. After tea/coffee and petit fours you are asked to complete a feed-back form, and to log your email address and phone number, to which they will add in their records what you have eaten, to ensure that you will not have the same food again on any subsequent visit!

The V.S.
Benahavis is situated about 7km. inland the from border between Marbella and Estapona,
and the college is to right on the approach road, Avda. Andalucia, just before the town proper begins, note: the position that the restaurant is shown on the map is incorrect, it is 300m. north of there. Adequate street parking. Open for lunch only, closed weekends, There are some 45 covers, and booking is essential on 952855701 or 652106736 and by email reservas@escuelahosteleria.es Manager Silvia is English speaking


Bishlin Guide marks out of 5

Ambience: 4.5
Food: 4.5
Service: 4.5
Menu: there isn’t one!
Value:5 O/A: 4.5



Please mention to the restaurateur that the restaurant was recommended in "MarbellaFamilyFun.com" Newsletter. To see even more reviews on the best restaurants in Marbella, check out The Bishlin Guide.


DATE: January 2016