Malaga Tapas & Bar
208 West 4th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512-236-8020
Fax: 512-236-8777
Reservations
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Executive Chef Alejandro Duran
Executive Chef Alejandro Duran, of Austin’s Malaga Tapas and Wine Bar, has a great love and respect for the art of preparing food—because it was an art born out of his upbringing.
Growing up in Spain and Mexico, Alex watched in awe as his mother and grandmother created fantastic meals from scratch, they meticulously inspected everything from the grains of
rice for paella to all the vegetables and meats going into a stew, to
ensure their quality. “One of my first vivid memories is of watching my mother cooking in our kitchen.”
At 10 years old, Alex was peeling potatoes and shelling shrimp with the rest of the females in the family and by 12, not only could he chop or julienne vegetables as fast as any of them, but he could inspect fish or poultry to make sure that it was the freshest. The love and care Alex’s mother took in preparing the family’s meals remains the philosophy of his cooking today.
With a background consisting of a combination of cultures – Spanish, French, Mexican and German bloodlines and his life divided living in Spain, Mexico and United States- Alex Duran brings a rich perspective to his cuisine.
He attended University of San Diego in California and received a bachelor’s of Business Administration. Although he wanted to be a chef from a young age, his family was determined that college should come first.
Alex’s professional food career started at Heart of Texas Specialty Foods in Austin, Texas as the Warehouse Manager, and later as the Director of Operations, where he learned everything about gourmet ingredients.
Later he was recruited to manage the Good Eats Café, then he joined forces with one of the partners of Good Eats to open his own restaurant, “Five Star Grill” on Bee Caves Road where he spent two years to the delight of the Westlake residents.
In 2000, Alex took over Malaga Tapas & Bar, where he turned the job into a triple position of General Manager, Executive Chef and Wine Buyer. Since then, Malaga has developed into a favorite Warehouse District destination and the premier Spanish tapas bar in Austin.