¨Iconic creator of the most famous caffee bakery in Ibiza¨
It was a cloudy but warm day in Ibiza, just 2 days before the New Years Eve. I had the pleasure of meeting Andre Quidu. From the moment we exchanged greetings, it was evident that Andre was not just a remarkable individual, but perhaps one of the warmest souls I had encountered on this island.
As our conversation unfolded, it transcended the mere formality of an interview, and turned into a captivating exchange of stories and memories. Andre's genuine hospitality, marked by his welcoming smile and embrace, set the tone for the amazing conversation.
Stories ranged from encounters with music legends like Jimmy Hendriks to starting and creating a legendary place Croissant Show.
Andre's initial visit to the magical island was a brief stop during a rainy coastal drive. However, the captivating beauty of Ibiza left a mark, sparking a love at first sight. Subsequent return eventually led him to make Ibiza his home.
As our conversation was coming to an end, one thing became clear: for Andre, Ibiza isn't just a destination; it's a way of life. And for him it remains a sanctuary of wild beauty, cherished memories, and cherished friendships. So, while his business may have changed hands, Andre's heart remains firmly rooted in the soil of this enchanting island.
I: Andre thank you so much for agreeing to meet me, I would like to know what you were like as a young boy, can you tell me about your childhood?
A: It is a very long story, and it was so long time ago(laughs). I come from a small town, a very special one, not because it is mine but because it is a capital of sausages made of smoky pork. And accordingly, a place where people drunk the most alcohol in France. I started traveling very young, and it didn’t take me too long to realize I didn’t want to stay in a small town where I was born.
I: When was the first time you heard about Ibiza.
A: Its been more than 30 years that I am in Ibiza. You know back then Ibiza was not so famous and well known place in my country, but I had a lot of friends who started to travel, and they kept telling me so many different stories about Ibiza. One friend came and told me that Jimmy Hendriks was playing there and how many famous people from west coast are all there. The other friend who was travelling from Morocco to Ibiza came with a crazy story in which he by mistake ended up offering joint to a policemen that resulted in him spending a nigh in the jail ( right here in Dalt Villa was a small dungeon where they brought him).They decided to deport him from Ibiza back to France, on his flight there was Bob Marley who previously had a concert in Ibiza. Naturally my friend ended up up coming home with huge amount of very good pot ( laughs).
I: So when was your first visit to magical islan?
A: My first time I came to ibza was just for a half of the day. I was with my wife and we were driving on the coast from France and it was raining. I desperately wanted to take some sun so we drove all the way to Barcelona. The rain followed us, so we decided to just go to the airport and ask for a place where at that moment was sunny. They told us to go to Palma de Mallorca. We rented out plane that would bring us for a day to Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. Ibiza was a love at first sight, and I just knew I would come back.
I: And next time you came back you decided also to stay?
A: I came back to Ibiza 5 years later. My wife and I decided to come to Ibiza with our daughter and son and rent a holiday house, just for a month. The house we have rented back then came with very specific instruction from my friend. We only knew that we have to go to a bar near the Airport in Ibiza, bar called Bartolomeo and ask for Pedro. It took us whole day to find a house (laughs). Back then obviously we didn’t have mobiles, GPS and internet, just Pedro. We arrived at the bar and we didn’t know a word of Spanish, but somehow we understood that we would be waiting for a while for Pedro to come. We ended up arriving to our home, and the house was in complete nature, no water or electricity, but peacefulness was worth more than anything else. We stayed there and after a month we still had a lot of money, because back in the days believe it or not was so Ibiza was not expensive. So, we decided to stay another month. After two months of our stay, I decided to make a present for Pedro and I have made sculpture of seagull. Jordi one of Pedro´s friend told me that it would be great idea to sell them here in Ibiza because of the Johnatan Livingston´s seagull movie. I always made restorations, and I liked creating things, so I started doing carpentry and woodcarvings in Ibiza. Unlike typical artists, who are amazing people and very creative I was also a good businessman and knew how to sell things. One night we went, at this hippie bar and I brought a seagull sculpture and that was a start of my artistic career that lasted for 10 years.
I: How did Croissant show happen?
A: I was already 10 years in Ibiza when my friend came to me and said he wanted to open French bakery in Ibiza. He started with a small local, just 34m2. After couple of months, I saw my friend again and he told me it was not a good business idea and that he wasn’t happy with how things were going. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this was not going well. I mean it was in the perfect location with so many people passing there every day so I decided to go and see what was going on. I went to shop and the moment I saw the person working, with angry face and unfriendly attitude it was clear to me. My friend was adamant to sell this place, so that same night I had a good talk with my friends and decision was made. I took over the bakery.
I: How did you transform the place from a French bakery into the historic and well know place that Croissant show later became?
A: At the beginning I was selling products to other bars and caffees, it was going well and I was earning a lot of money. I worked every day probably till 3.30 in the morning baking baguettes and croissants. At the times I was making around 1000 baguettes a day. One night I went out from the shop to smoke a cigarette and get some fresh air, and that was a night when the first discotheque in Dalt Villa was opened (right up in the castle). There was a couple of LBT community members dressed very uniquely, talking and singing. In one moment they came and started asking me about the amazing smell coming from my shop and said that they would loved some pain au chocolate. That was the beginning of the historic era of Croissant show. Every night and early morning party people would come to eat some pastries. The bar that was right on the corner had a lot of customers and they would sit there but order food from me, since my terrace at the beginning had only two tables. After few months I took over the bar and the shop next to me, and the Croissant Show became the favorite place of so many people. Before the Privilege there was Ku and it made the best parties at the time. It was closing around 5 in the morning, and all the people would come after they danced whole night to have breakfast. You know it was a time where in the morning you would see just a mixing pot of people, disco kids coming from parties having their croissants or neighbours who just woke up and craved some fresh bread, just a mix of different people and different lives all in one place in a perfect harmony.
I: I heard some pretty famous faces used to show up as well for those croissants?
A: One time I was working I met Leonardo Di Caprio. Giorgio Armani used to come often. He had his table where we would always sit and enjoy his croissant and coffee, obviously surrounded by his bodyguards.
I: You already mentioned how much you love Dalt Vila, can you tell me why is it so dear to you?
A: 45 years ago, it was very different, but it will always be the heart of Ibiza. Every time I come there is always something new. New shops, new people and new stories and things to do. For me it is amazing how beautifully Dalt Vila combines new and old, modern and historic. The best representation of that is a museum of modern art right up in the castle.
I: Ibiza as you already said has changed a lot, but is it still a place that you would come for a month and never leave?
A: Most definitely, you know the whole world is changing nothing is like how it used to be 45 years ago, but Ibiza is still a special and one of a kind. And we who live here sometimes forget how unique it´s life and lifestyle is, until we go and visit a city!
I: What are your favourite places in Ibiza?
A: the ones that are wild and free, especially wild beaches. Im not gonna say where this beach is though (laughs). I love to go to chiringuitos and have a glass of wine with friends.
I: Now that you sold you business, do you plan to stay in Ibiza, or do you want to move somewhere?
A: I will stay, I love people from Ibiza. I don’t think I will ever want to leave this island. But I hope to find a new apartment more in the city so I can see my friends and walk in these beautiful streets, I am selling my house in countryside and I don’t want to work around the house anymore.
