The Spice of Life

In stepping out of the comfort of conversation and focusing back on the busy schedule of a General Manager’s Monday morning, Señor Picazo gave us an interesting introduction to our next visit, “It’s too late for me to be an architect or a doctor, but you will see that for Mr. Thamer it’s not too late, I know he will soon fulfill his dream.”



We arrive in a small dead end street outside a very unassuming townhouse. The door is opened and left ajar and one of us hesitates before peering in. Thamar appears from behind a cloud of smoke and, cigarette still in hand, shakes each of our hands firmly. We are directed into the sitting room and are left to seat ourselves in deep armchairs or raised stools. Our host appears again to take pride of place in the raised armchair at the head of the gathering. His throne frames him amidst an array of Persian, Arabian and Asian pieces that befit his presence – an understated grandeur that emanates a long standing appreciation for the history of a region from which he partly descends and for which he has a real affinity for.

Half Spanish, half Saudi, Thamar speaks of growing up in Madrid and his university years clouded by excessive drinking and partying in Lebanon. He talks candidly of his strong belief for his children in an education of secondary schooling in Europe before tertiary studies commenced in the United States. America means independence. He has 2 boys, ‘almost 17 and almost 22’. Both of who were and will be refused any financial support for and throughout tertiary studies should they stay in Spain and not study abroad.


He wouldn’t live in Saudi Arabia though: “Not liberal enough”. He got married in San Francisco to a beautiful Persian acting student who gave him two gorgeous sons. Unlike Mr. Picazo he feels he was given the right opportunities in life although he does say his father pushed him into becoming an engineer, though to no avail. If he didn’t fulfill his “dream” as a child it’s because he was too busy having fun, enjoying life. In fact when asked what he wanted to be when he was young, he answers with a grin: “Rich.” He doesn’t see being rich as a means to an end though, but rather as a means to enjoy life with those around him comfortably.

Thamer is a collector. He collects National Geographics, cookbooks, spices, DVDs, tin soldiers, watches, pictures of his family. And he seems to collect people too. “The most important thing in business is connections.” You have to collect as many business contacts as possible. And you have to be honest and authentic.




He collects friends. Not many, but very good ones. He has them everywhere around the world, from all different walks of life. His favourite place in the world to be is Ibiza, with his family, and embarking on trips abroad with those close to him 3 to 4 times a year. He loves to reconnect with his best friend in Lebanon and reminisce about the explosive moments they’ve shared together, “To be surrounded by good people is important.”

He seems to be a successful business man having worked almost all Asian and Southeast Asian markets as a representative of international perfume companies. But maybe he is more the artist than the business man. In fact, Thamer speaks like an artist. But he denies that he wants to be seen as one – of course. All in all, he quite obviously indulges in the elegance of balancing nonchalance and challenge. The 8000 Euro Breguet on his wrist is not in any way a status symbol of course, it’s simply a nice looking watch. And his Porsche Cayenne is of course just a vehicle in which to comfortably get from A to B. (We’re trying to believe..).

And what of his dreams…? Soon to come true: opening his own restaurant with him behind the stove and his wife behind the business. Sounds like a perfect plan. He has been cooking as a hobby for 30 years and can’t get enough. In view of the countless herbs and spices that reside in his massive top chef kitchen, we believe him. We will soon be able to enjoy having lunch or dinner in Thamer’s Bistro where everyday is a new creation that he can ponder come morning and serve up to impress of an evening.

With an answer to every question and an opinion on every subject, we are keen to learn of any philosophies he might adhere to. Living a good life. Knowing the limits and pushing the limits. Being selective but generous, being loyal but open. Collecting a network of friends, but remaining independent. Thamar speaks to us frankly and proudly and he emanates an air of conviction that is hard to ignore. He is a man of principles. Although his ostentatious liberal attitude of not having any principles on certain things seems to be a well defended principal too.







Seeing the Light As we descend the front steps at the closing of our second visit in Madrid, I think we are all struck by a sense of something fairly special. We had been received with an air of authority and uncertainty. He had commenced the visit by participating in our conversation in an honest and open manner but he had emanated an unmistakable presence of reserve. The character that had shown us out and waved his goodbyes felt to be more of a friend who we’d wiled away some of the afternoon with, had a coffee with and reminisced about some memories with. He’d confided some of the more intimate trials of his younger years, shared with us his aspirations and spoke honestly of his concerns for having provided the proper grounding for his sons in life in order that they may freely make the right choices for themselves in the difficult and changing world in which we live. It was with this realisation that the project, our objective and our reason for having embarked on such a journey became clear. And the energy, enthusiasm, team spirit and camaraderie that set us up for the rest of the day, and the ones to follow, from that point onwards truly became contagious.