Mamas in Ibiza
Alexandra Sanwald
Kids in Ibiza are proud to showcase a series of hard working Ibiza Mamas who have built their own business empire here in Ibiza. This week we present you with multiple business owner Alexandra Sanwald who owns Samos Deli bakery, Samovar and Pura Vida restaurants and runs The Ibiza Catering.
What brought you to Ibiza?
This one is easy; I was born in Ibiza. My parents moved here 45 years ago and I was born and raised on the island. Whilst working a winter season in Austria, I met my now husband. I ‘imported’ him not long after and we definitely made the right choice. He is Croatian and we have now been together for over 15 years.
Tell us about your children:
I have 2 children; Leo 10 years old and Emma 7 years old. I speak German with the kids, they also speak Castellano, Catalan and English.
Nurseries and schools in Ibiza – what have you chosen for your children and why?
The children go to the public school in Santa Eulalia. I chose this as I wanted them to attend a local school close to home and on the whole am happy with the school As my son gets older, I have noticed that he would benefit from being stretched a bit more academically and we are exploring other options from year 6, such as Sa real in Ibiza. They operate a points based entrance system. If this is not an option, then we would also consider Mestral. I like the idea of teaching just in Castellano, as feel that the children become slightly confused at times with the combination of Catalan and Castellano.
Tell us about your work / business:
I own the bakery Samos Deli where we produce our own in house pastry and bread and offer a delivery service of German bread across the island. We also supply the supermarket chain Eroski with their bread in Majorca. In addition to the bakery, we have a family run restaurant called Samovar located in Siesta and beachside restaurant Pura Vida. I run and own The Ibiza Catering and also involved in wine distribution.
What’s your mama trick to manage work and family life?
Being self-employed, I am able to time manage effectively, however there are set hours I need to be at work so we have an in-house nanny who lives with us in high season. I am very lucky to have my parents nearby, who are retired and help greatly with the kids – they are super star grandparents!
What’s your favourite day out with your children /family?
Our perfect day out is playing golf together as a family. It’s a great activity that we can all participate in and a chance to switch off from work and technology. Being out on the golf course makes you feel like you are away from it all. We also love to go to the beach together.
What’s your best day (and night) spent on the island when not working and off mama duty:
By day I would visit one of the beach clubs on the other side of the island, such as Cala Bassa Beach Club or Cotton Club. It’s nice to get away from the busy and familiar side of the island I live on.
By night I would go to Heart, Ibiza. I love it and is really my kind of place.