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AmoyMagic--Guide to Xiamen & Fujian
Copyright 2001-7 by Sue Brown & Dr. Bill Order Books Xiamenguide Forum
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Note from Bill: this page's material was provided by Oliva. I enjoyed Oliva immensely my first few visits, but it has changed some since Chef Allen left. Still, the present cooks learned their techniques (and savory sauces) from Allen, so it's still worth a try. Their menu will appeal to many tastes (or even to people like me who have no taste whatsoever).
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Oliva European Restaurant & Bar
(奥里瓦欧餐会所)

Newly Remodeled; Exciting New Menu!
(Photo & Text Copyright 2006 by Oliva)

Click for Chef Allen's Bio
Click for Oliva Address & Contact Info

"Oliva--a Restaurant of Legendary Status" Oliva European Restaurantand & Bar is nestled in the heart of an upper-middle-class neighbourhood just a few blocks from Yuandang Lake (pictured above). The building was one of Xiamen's earliest homes, built around 1980. Chef Allan converted the home into a French Restaurant that has a romantic and cozy atmosphere with the ambiance of a French countryside inn. Most of the year, diners can enjoy outdoor dining under a canopy of beautiful trees surrounded by large planters of lush greenery.

Chef Allan’s gastronomic philosophy is to offer his guests authentic French dishes in which the flavour of the ingredients is given pride of place. The outcome is a cuisine that is remarkably unpretentious and honest, yet luxurious and created with passion and flair. Signature dishes include:

Pan-fried foie gras: pan-fried goose liver served with apple glace and accompanied with Turkish bread.

Filet Mignon: grilled Australian beef tenderloin on roasted potato, side crepe champignon served with buttered vegetables and white truffles demi-glace sauce.

Carre d’ Agneau: pan-fried New Zealand lamb cutlet with soft polenta and vegetables with rosemary gravy and rich mint jelly on the side and the famous Chocolat Crêpe Praline: hazelnut chocolate filled crepe topped with ice cream.

Over the years, Oliva European Restaurant has attracted a very loyal international clientele as well as a local following. With exquisite French cuisine, superior service and an award winning wine list, Oliva continues to be the premier French and gourmet restaurant in Xiamen, China.

Back to Top AmoyMagic Guide to Xiamen Fujian

Chef Allan Anchetta....
Over the past few years, Xiamen has enjoyed fine dining like never before. Truffles, foie gras & parmigianno regianno are not as foreign as they used to be thanks to culinary artisans like Chef Allan Anchetta.

Born to a family of great Chefs. At age 7, he was his Lola's assistant at her famous Rosa Valenciana，and from there, a kitchen fairy tale begins. He unabashfully admits that on his first day of work as a kitchen helper at the Century Park Sheraton Hotel, big fat tears rolled down his cheeks as he realized he was doing exactly what he wanted.

Chef Allan graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Food Nutrition and Dietetics. The passionate young chef began his career at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel as Sous Chef, working later in many different 5-star hotels throughout Asia. Trained in classic French cooking and well versed in Italian, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisines, Allan has easily embraced the use of local ingredients to create dishes that blend the robust flavours of the West with the more subtle ones of the East, incorporating refined spices from all over the world to bring an exceptionally fresh taste to his unique dishes.

In 2001, Chef Allan worked in the Exclusive International Club of the Bank Centre in Xiamen as their Executive Chef. A year later, he founded his cozy Italian-Mediterranean Restaurant, Le Mezina, which became one of Xiamen’s most venerable and acclaimed establishments. Despite its location in downtown Xiamen, word spread quickly that Le Mezina's, with its comfortable and relaxing ambiance, was the place for Mexican delicacies and great juicy burgers.

In 2004, Allan founded his cozy French restaurant, Oliva--an exclusive 60-seat restaurant with the trappings of an elegant chateau. Oliva is now the place for an intimate gourmet dinner in our burgeoning metropolis. Oliva has set the standard for culinary excellence in Xiamen, and the much-publicized arrival of different western restaurants has not detracted from Oliva's superlative reputation and immense following.

With these highly acclaimed restaurants, Chef Allan has remained at the top of China's culinary hierarchy and he seems to be a chef truly at peace with his choices in life. Described by his peers as having no ego --- a very rare quality in a successful chef --- he is regarded as a superb mentor to younger talents.

No matter the occasion,
......Chef Allan’s cuisine will make it an event to remember!