Authentic Mallorcan Almonds

We are delighted to have a new profile on SkyBlue Mallorca for Mallorca Fruits – the local cooperative which represents locally grown Mallorcan Almonds.

You probably already know how healthy Almonds are and how beneficial it is to include them as a part of your diet – but do you know just how tasty Mallorca almonds are? They are well known for their flavour and quality – and of course by eating Mallorcan Almonds you are supporting local farmers and a local sustainable product.

Almonds are a key ingredient of the Mediterranean and Mallorcan diets. They are especially important at this time of the year when Mallorca enjoys all its traditional Christmas sweets which are all based on Almonds! Traditional ‘Turron’ comes in many different varieties and Mallorca Fruits produces a very high quality turron as well as several variations of packaged almonds.

Visit the Mallorca Fruits profile on SkyBlue Mallorca for lots of information about how you can enjoy this fantastic local product.

Two new Michelin Stars for Mallorca

Macarena de Castro

We are thrilled to report that our beloved island of Mallorca has been awarded two new Michelin stars!!

Jardin Restaurant in the Port of Alcudia (Chef Macarena de Castro) and Es Fum Restaurant in Costa d’en Blanes Hotel St Regis Mardavall (Chef Thomas Kahl) have both been awarded stars in the 2012 edition of the Michelin Red Guide.

Any of you Mallorcan foodies out there will surely have heard of these two restaurants; they are two gems and offer a gastronomic experience which is well within Michelin star standards.

So congratulations to Jardin, Es Fum and their hard working teams!!

Thomas Kahl

Gourmet Christmas Presents in Mallorca

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?! We always like to give ‘Gourmet Gifts’ gifts that can be ‘savoured’.

That’s why today we are recommending the Christmas hampers available at La Casa de Los Quesos in Palma.

As the name suggests, La Casa de Los Quesos specialises in cheeses and the christmas gifts they are offering are perfect for a foodie or cheese lover. We have uploaded a whole album of photos on Facebook so check it out.

The hampers include Fondue Sets and Specialty Cheeses accompanied by chutneys, jams and crackers. Delicious!

Carlo Petrini visits Mallorca

Carlo Petrini the founder of Slow Food International and famous food author, recently visited Palma to present a keynote speech at Es Baluard museum.

SkyBlue Mallorca representatives were amongst the many people who went to hear Carlo’s passionate speech.

Carlo was named a ‘European Hero’ in 2008 by TIME magazine and was included in The Guardian newspaper’s list of ‘The 50 People Most Likely to Save the World’.

Carlo has inspired people the world over to begin supporting local producers and to change the way they think about food. Carlo asked the Palma public to respect their food and to take time out to cook food with family and friends.

For more information about Slow Food visit: http://www.slowfoodib.org/

Video: El Olivo Restaurant

Here’s a video we recorded in the kitchen with Chef Guillermo Mendez at El Olivo Restaurant.

Christmas on its way


This week on SkyBlue Mallorca we have been busy preparing our Christmas Menu download pages. Yes! It is that time of the year again… Restaurants across Mallorca are already preparing their various festive menus and their set menus for groups and office Christmas parties.

If you are planning a company Christmas party, now is the time to get choosing the venue you would like for this year…

Remember you can download a host of options on SkyBlue Mallorca, and we will be adding more and more over the coming week!

Festive Season Menus 2011

Chef Tim Raue at Simply Fosh

Here’s a great video interview with Michelin starred Chef Tim Raue, recorded during his recent visit to Simply Fosh Restaurant in Palma.

New awards for Jose Luis Ferrer Winery

Jose Luis Ferrer Wine Estate, comes away with more awards at the  ”Mezquita de Córdoba”.

This year marked the XVI edition of the “Mezquita de Córdoba” 2011 awards.

The “Mezquita de Oro”  was awarded to two of Jose Luis Ferrer’s wines, the CRIANZA 2008 and the VERITAS DOLÇ 2010.

The Crianza 2008 is well known for its traditional flavour and for being an icon of Mallorca, based as it is on the local variety Mantonegro. Veritas Dolç 2010, is a fresh and innovative wine, made with the white variety of Moscatel grape “Grano Menudo”.

Get ready for Christmas with Tomeu Caldentey…

Yes, it is coming up to that time of year again… and to get you into the spirit of things Chef Tomeu Caldentey at Es Moli den Bou in Sa Coma is once again running his Christmas themed cookery courses.

Over a three day course, Tomeu takes you through a Christmas Cooking workshop after which you will come away armed with all the recipes and experience you need to dazzle your family and friends with your cooking this Christmas.

There are three slots to choose from, all taking place in November, and bookings must be made before the 31st of October. Don’t forget that Tomeu Caldentey is a Michelin starred Chef, so this is a truly unique opportunity.

Jordi Calvache opens new restaurant in the Poligono de Can Valero

Chef Jordi Calvache launches Unbar D’Calvache Restaurant, a new concept at Poligono Can Valero.

This stylish restaurant will be offering Jordi’s signature cuisine at affordable prices, made mostly using seasonal and local ingredients. In short, it is the place to go for a healthy and wholesome meal.

One of the particularly exciting aspects about this new restaurant is the fact that it is open from 07.00 for breakfast, its convenient location for workers and office staff makes it ideal for this, and Unbar promises to offer a wide selection of tasty and healthy breakfasts for you to choose from.

Also available of course, are a great menu of the day and even a tasting menu for when you need to impressive those important business associates.

A must try!

Tasca de Blanquerna wins the top prize in TaPalma 2011

Tasca de Blanquerna, one of the Marc Fosh Restaurant Group, has been rewarded with the top prize in TaPalma 2011, Mallorca’s yearly tapas fair & competition.

The “TaPalma de Oro” was awarded to Tasca for the best Tapa “Slow cooked Iberian Pork with almond “Torrija” & soller orange compote” prepared by Head Chef, Carlos Abad. Congratulations to Carlos, Marco and all the team at Tasca.

If you would like to try the winning Tapa, the restaurant will continue to offer this dish for a limited time only.

Zee Restaurant in Cala Estancia

We have recently gotten know Hilbert and Rosa, the team behind Zee Restaurant in Palma, where you’ll find some wonderful gastronomic surprises.

The couple combined their experience, knowledge and passion for food, after working side by side on a luxury yacht, to create their restaurant in Cala Estancia. Hilbert is a relatively well known chef and specialises in fusion cuisine with French, Dutch and Mediterranean influences.

Zee’s elegant and well appointed venue makes it ideal for events and group meals. It often hosts creative wine matching dinners and courses in collaboration with Wine Educators International, for people who are passionate about food and wine.

Wine Courses at Catavinos

The team at Catavinos Wine Store in the Poligono de Can Valero in Palma offers a different schedule of events every month, including workshops and courses about wine and how to combine it with food.

October is packed full of great events.
First up is the now regular Wine Tasting course which takes you through the basics of how to identify a good wine and of course how to enjoy it. This is a two day course and really gives you a great grounding into the world of wine, so if this has always been a passion of yours, and you would like to explore it further, this course is for you.

Also included this month are some great cookery courses with some very well known chefs. Tomeu Marti from Arume Restaurant will be running a Japanese cookery course, Jordi Calvache from D’Calvache Catering will be preparing a wine matching dinner and the chef from UMMO restaurant (3 times TaPalma winner) will be teaching his best tapas and pinchos tricks.

All courses are conducted in Spanish.

At Satyricon Restaurant in Alcudia

Here’s a video of the Chef Raul Resino Olivares preparing a dish at Satyricon Restaurant in Alcudia.

Port Petit Restaurant

French Chef Gerard Deymier has been offering Mediterranean cuisine of the highest quality since opening his restaurant Port Petit in Cala d’Or in 1988.

Over the years Gerard’s restaurant has become well known for its standards of excellence. He loves to use fresh, seasonal produce and all his creations are always presented with an imaginative flair.

You can dine a la carte or choose between a variety of set menus and tasting menus, all accompanied by fine wines.

Finish off with an exquisite dessert made by the in-house pastry chef.

Launch of Misa Bar

Marc Fosh and Rob Bragagnolo create wonderfully delicious and refreshing cocktails at the Misa Bar, inside Misa Braseria at the Hotel Mision de Sant Miquel in Palma.

They celebrated the launch of the bar with a cocktail party which we went along to and told you about on Facebook!.

The cocktails are made using fresh  ingredients and some super zingy anti oxidant fruit and vegetables!

Menu of the day at Forn de Sant Joan

We highly recommend the menu of the day at Forn de Sant Joan Restaurant in La Lonja.

The menu of the day is available Monday to Sunday at lunchtime from 13.00 to 16.00 and is priced at 15 euros per person (3 dishes including drinks and tax).

Here’s an example of what the menu is like (changes every week and you can choose between three options for each course).

Starters:

Chilled cream of pumpkin soup with vanilla

River crab salad and mango

Cocktail of braised beef cheeks and apricot puree

Main Course:

Wheat vegetable ravioli with pomodoro sauce and basil

Grilled cod, risotto of wheat and kimchee sauce

Tataki of beef with mashed wasabi and sweet soy

Dessert:

Fig tart with meringue ice cream

Pineapple carpaccio with coconut ice cream

Crema catalana

 

Son Prim Wine Estate – Video

Here’s a video of Son Prim Wine Estate in Sencelles, Mallorca.

New in Es Molinar/Portixol

The talented chef and our friend, Ronny Portulidis and his team (these are the people that brought you Duke and Fresh Food Factory in Palma) have opened a new restaurant, this time in El Portixol area, right in front of El Molinar boat club.

Ca’n Punta is a stylish establishment with a modern maritime theme and is located right in front of the sea.

They serve a menu of the day for €16 which includes 2 courses, bread and a drink and you can also choose to have half a menu for €10,50.

On the day we visited the menu items were Watermelon Gazpacho; Saffron Buillabaise; Roast Beef Carpaccio and Hamburger served in Pita bread; French Steak Sandwich; Risotto with mussels, squid and king prawns.

Mallorcan Restaurants featured on national TV

Mallorcan Restaurants and Mallorcan gastronomy has recently been featured on a very popular national TV program called ‘Un país para comérselo’ which more or less means ‘A country good enough to eat’.

The program features two famous Spanish actors, Juan Echanove and Imanol Arias and takes viewers across Spain discovering different regions through its cuisine.

Some of the restaurants on the island featured on the program were Ca Na Toneta Restaurant in Caimari and Es Moli d’en Bou Restaurant in Sa Coma. Well done to them and to everyone involved in this great project!

Tapas in Palma

There is an exciting new tapas joint now open in Palma. Es Jardinet is located right on the ‘Avenidas’  and serves traditional tapas within a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Specialties include the following tapas: Chistorra Sausage with onion honey; Cochifrito (fried small pieces of suckling pig); Iberian Ham; Sauteed prawns with garlic and bacon; Seafood ‘Frito’; Vegetables in batter; Tumbet (Red peppers, aubergines, potatoes); Fried Camembert; Patatas bravas (spicy potatoes).

For you to try what they have to offer Es Jardinet is currently running a special opening offer for the whole of September whereby you get 30% discount at lunchtime and 50% discount at dinner time. An offer not to be missed!

Now available: A tasting menu at Can March

Can March restaurant is a must-visit in Manacor. In fact, it is worth going to Manacor just to have lunch there. And now you have even more reason to do so.

Our friends, Miquel and Tolo, the team of brothers which run Can March have recently let us know that they are now offering a Tasting Menu. The menu comprises 7 courses and costs just 28 euros. It changes every week according to the seasonal produce available and is available every day except Sunday.

The cuisine at Can March is based on Mallorcan and Mediterranean seasonal produce and tradition but also includes an element of creative fusion – Miquel the chef never fails to surprise and creates delicious cuisine all year round.

New: Bens d’Avall Mediterranean Bistro in Palma

One of the best and most well known of Mallorca’s chefs: Benet Vicens, someone SkyBlue Mallorca has been following for a number of years now, and a firm believer in local seasonal produce and sustainable production methods, has just opened a new restaurant in Palma.

Those of you who know or have heard of Benet Vicens, will know that he is the Chef and owner of Bens d’Avall Restaurant, the popular establishment located at a stunningly beautiful venue on the road between Deia and Soller. The food at Bens dAvall is quite simply, sublime. And to add to your enjoyment the restaurant has a very sophisticated wine selection featuring mostly Mallorcan wines to go with the mostly Mallorcan ingredients used in the kitchen.

If you don’t fancy the drive up there, however, you now have the opportunity of savouring a more informal version of Benet’s cuisine in the centre of Palma. The team has opened the Bens dAvall Mediterranean Bistro inside the stylish Club de Mar in Palma, with views of the boats and the bay of Palma. Look out for more information about this new venue coming soon on SkyBlue Mallorca.

Organic produce on the Islands to lose its recognition

It has come to SkyBlue Mallorca’s attention that the regional association which certifies and controls organic products on the islands is in danger of disappearing.

The CBPAE was set up to control and label products claiming to be organic or ecological produced or grown here on the islands. This is currently the only official way Balearic products can claim organic or ecological status and print this on their labels for view when on sale.

The current economic crisis has meant that the CBPAE will soon be closed down, leaving producers and customers without any proper regulations when it comes to selling or identifying local organic produce.

For more information about this visit www.cbpae.org

Happy Birthday Arume!

We are delighted to be able to wish Arume Restaurant in Palma a very Happy Birthday!

The restaurant is celebrating its 5th anniversary this month. We all know times have been difficult recently so it is great to see restaurants celebrating 5 years of successful business like this one.

Arume is an Asian themed restaurant, including sushi bar and signature cuisine by well known Chef Tomeu Marti. Tomeu likes to combine Asian and Mediterranean influences to create fusion style cuisine and incorporating the finest Japanese techniques using fresh fish. One of his specialties is the ‘Arume Sushi’, an elaborate dish prepared with 9 different varieties of fish.

To celebrate its fifth anniversary Arume has launched a new menu featuring miniature versions of his cuisine. The menu is called Sensations.