Meet the Newport Market stall owner who was a private chef for Uri Geller

DESCRIBED as a Greek artisan bakery, Ya Loukouma in Newport sells a range of charcuterie products and treats to suit different tastes. The Argus sat down with the owner to talk about the concept of the stall, being a private chef for a famous illusionist, and the stall’s most popular dish.

Antonios Alexandris, 48, is the owner of Ya Loukouma in Newport Market and said he has been in the hospitality industry for 32 years.

Mr Alexandris said they wanted to offer something “that only Greeks do, like homemade kourou tarts” with ingredients like feta cheese.

Entrance to Newport Indoor Market (Image file)

A quick Google search later and you’ll discover that they are similar to Cornish pasties but use different ingredients to give an authentic flavor.

Ya Loukouma offers traditional spinach tarts, cheese tarts, cottage tarts and one called “Mediterranean Island” – the stall’s vegan tart.

Mr Alexandris said he was a lecturer in Greece and Wales, adding: “I lived in Athens. I was teaching chefs to become chefs. My main goal as a chef is to develop myself.

Ya Loukouma charcuterie counter (Image: Newsquest)

“I’ve been head of development for many big companies like the Greene King Pub. I like to invent things.”

Most Popular Menu Item at Ya Loukouma

His passion for inventing led him to create “cheesecake baklava,” which he said won awards, leading him to take pre-orders for the sweet product.

“People come, they see one (baklava with cheesecake) and they take the whole tray. It’s a product that we are very proud of,” said Antonios, who added: “a baklava and a cheesecake, two beautiful things that go together, with a baklava base, with a cheesecake mix inside.”

Baklava with cheesecake from Ya Loukouma (Image: Newsquest)

Another treat offered at the Ya Loukouma stand: loukoumades; balls of dough dipped in honey, the owner of which claimed that “literally no one, not even in London, had loukoumades”.

Private chef of famous illusionist Uri Geller

The chef said he was previously working at the Athens Hilton Hotel when he met famous illusionist and magician Uri Geller.

Recalling the time they met, Mr Alexandris said: “He was folding 600 spoons.”

Antonios Alexandris serves the stall’s famous cheesecake baklava. (Image: Newsquest)

Future plans of the owner of Ya Loukouma

The owner of Ya Loukouma started out in Cardiff with a gyro stand called Ya Souvlaki, which was praised by critics as offering “great value and great flavor”.

Here Ya Souvlaki team said to serve Psomaki.

Through his Instagram account, Ya Souvlaki explained what this unusual dish is, available in three flavors, squid, chicken and pork.

He said: “Our Psomaki is similar to our wraps but a bigger base means more filling!

“Replace the round pita with a long roll. Psomaki is simply a Viennese roll toasted with our lemon emulsion (for a sturdy base) then stuffed and wrapped like a traditional gyros wrap.

Mr Alexandris confirmed two more food stores would open in mid-July, in Cardiff and Swansea.

Ya Loukouma is located at Newport Market.