Mallorca Christmas Food

Like all the significant festivities of the annual calendar, Christmas in Mallorca has its own important gastronomic traditions. Christmas has been developing and changing in Mallorca over the years, but when it comes to food some very strong customs are still prevalent and are passed on from parents to children.
Christmas Eve is a very significant evening in Mallorca, just as in the rest of Spain. The custom is to go to Church at midnight for what is known as the 'Cockerel's Mass' to bring in the day of the birth of Christ. On the way home from the service it is traditional to have a hot chocolate and some Mallorcan ensaimadas.
Lunch on Christmas Day is a gastronomic feast; the meal starts with a 'Sopa de Navidad' or 'Christmas Soup', which consists of turkey broth with pasta, liver and boiled eggs in it; next is boiled turkey with vegetables and then a roast pork with crackling and 'patató' or roast new potatoes. For dessert, a tray of different 'turrón' is prepared. Turrón is a sweet traditionally based on almonds and comes in many different varieties, but the typical Mallorcan turrón is a thin version with almond paste in between sheets of rice paper or 'neulas'. The turrón can be accompanied by a 'Coca de Nadal' or Christmas cake which is similar to the coca de patata which is so typical of the village of Valldemossa, but is bigger and has aniseed in it. Mallorcan almonds and indeed all dried fruits have a very prominent role throughout all the Christmas season, both in the form of 'turrón' and marzipan as on their own. The meal is usually accompanied by a good wine and a glass of cava.
The next day, the 26th of December, is also a feast day in Mallorca, and families usually get together again to enjoy the leftovers of the previous' day's lunch.
As they say in Mallorca, Bon Profit y Bones Festes!

Christmas at Home

Some Mallorca Restaurants have come up with a great new idea this Christmas- take away festive meals!
What better way to enjoy some quality festive cooking without all the stress and bother?!

For now, there are three Mallorca restaurants offering this service and you can download the menus direct from SkyBlueMallorca.com
The restaurants are Ca'n March Restaurant in Manacor, Es Moli d'en Bou Restaurant in Sant Llorenç des Cardassar, and Molt de Gust Catering and Restaurant in Palma.
Download their menus now and enjoy a gourmet Christmas in the comfort of your own home!

Merry Christmas!

New beginnings for Koldo Royo

After twenty years, eighteen with a Michelin star to its name, the prestigiuos 'Koldo Royo' Restaurant on the Paseo Maritimo in Palma, Majorca has closed. Koldo Royo is one of the most influential Chefs in Spain; he has been awarded numerous prizes, both on a national and international level, and he has worked with some of the greatest culinary masters in Spain, such as Juan Mari Arzak and Luis Irizar. The closing of 'Koldo Royo' marks the end of an era for Koldo, but he assures us that he needs time to 'reflect' before beginning new endeavours.
SkyBlue Mallorca was honoured to be able to record the above interview with Koldo Royo in Spanish in which he tells us about his new beginnings
Read more about Koldo Royo and his career as one of the top Chefs in Spain

Fantastic Gourmet gifts

We visited Maria, Juan Jose and Virgilio at Fausto Izquierdo last week and have since put their gourmet charcuterie up on SkyBlue Mallorca.

I thought their gourmet hampers were fantastic as gifts to people this festive season.. Maria and Juanjo help you choose the right produce and to combine it so that it is as well used as possible!

Read more about this wonderful gourmet shop in Santa Catalina, -Fausto Izquierdo-.

El Pato Restaurant, New to SkyBlueMallorca.com

The latest addition to SkyBlueMallorca.com is El Pato Restaurant in Son Vida, inside Son Vida Golf Club House.

As always, great fun was had putting this page together... This signature dish of duck breast with red wine pear looked (and smelt) divine!

Read all about it on SkyBlueMallorca.com

Porxada de Sa Torre, New Restaurant on SkyBlue Mallorca

New Restaurant on SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide - Porxada de Sa Torre Restaurant in Canyamel, near Capdepera.

Find out more about this Restaurant on SkyBlue Mallorca - Suckling pig is their star dish!

Pro Gastronomía Balear '09 - The world is introduced to New Balearic Gastronomy

The first event of the Pro Gastronomía Balear 09 movement which will travel to the conference Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía (The best of Gastronomy) in San Sebastian at the end of November was presented at the Son Termens Estate. More than 50 professionals from the world of Balearic gastronomy will be traveling to the conference, considered one of the most important gastronomic events in Europe with Mallorca A la Carta and the Association of Balearic Gastronomy.

Those assisting the presentation were able to taste 15 of the thirty tapas dishes which will be presented during an official dinner at the prestigious conference. The tapas dishes have been created by 15 of the most talented Chefs of the Balearics all of whom will travel to the conference in San Sebastian to represent New Balearic cuisine at its best.

This will be the first time ever that the Balearic Islands have enjoyed such an significant representation at this international conference and the star studded group of ambassadors hope to promote new Balearic cuisine, the islands as a gastronomic destination and the richness of autochthonous products it is home to. A book will also be presented at the conference which will present the best of Balearic Gastronomy, the creation of which SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide is proud to have taken part in.

The Chefs participating in Pro Gastronomia Balear '09 are the following;

Gerhard Schwaiger from Tristan Restaurant in Puerto Portals

Benet Vicens from Bens D'Avall Restaurant in Soller

Koldo Royo from Koldo Royo Restaurant in Palma

Marc Fosh from Bacchus Restaurant at Reads
Hotel

Bartomeu Caldentey from Es Moli d'en Bou Restaurant in Llorenç des Cardassar

Rafael Sánchez from Plat D'Or Restaurant at the Arabella Sheraton Hotel in Son Vida

Macarena de Castro from Jardin Restaurant in Alcudia

Joan Marc Garcías from 36/5 Restaurant in Hotel Son Brull

Guillermo Méndez from El Olivo Restaurant in La Residencia Hotel

Oscar García from S'Atic Restaurant at Hotel los Geranios

Bartomeu Trias, current champion Chef of the Balearic Islands

Vicente Fortea from Son Termens

Jordi Calvache from Son Julia Restaurant, Gran Hotel Son Julia

Santiago Taura from Santi Taura Restaurant

Caterina Pieras from del Es Vi Restaurant at the Castillo Hotel Son Vida

and The Escuela de Hosteleria from the University of the Balearic Islands

As well as the following Mallorca Wine Estates; Miquel Gelabert, Anima Negra and Cap de Bavaria

Read more about the conference 'Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía' and the Pro Gastronomía Balear 09 team.

New Majorca Chefs information on SkyBlueMallorca.com

photo of the stunning view from Cap Vermell Restaurant

Two new chef profiles have been added to our extensive list of Mallorca Chefs.

Roland Schulte is now heading up the stunning Cap Vermell Beach Hotel and Restaurant.

Read more about Roland's star studded career and watch a video interview.

Julio Garmendia is originally from the Basque country in Spain and has worked with some of the great Spanish chefs like Carlos Arguiñano and is now heading up the new Eboca restaurant in Ciudad Jardin and enjoys using products with Denomination of Origin of the Balearic Islands.

Read more about Julio Garmendia and watch a video interview

Articles on Ezine, Discovering Majorca Food

I am glad to say that some of my articles have been incuded on Ezinearticles.com
I have uploaded some of my articles on Majorca Food and Majorca Restaurants. Read the articles in their original format on SkyBlueMallorca.com;
Majorca Food, An Introduction
Majorca Food, Rich and Varied Vegetables
Majorca Food, The Ensaimada
Majorca Food, Sobrassada
Majorca Restaurants with Michelin Stars

Have a look at my profile on Ezine Articles

The photo on the right is of a Mallorca Ensaimada, thanks to www.illesbalearsqualitat.cat for the photo

mmmm wine and cheese

personally, there is precious little I enjoy more than some cheese and a glass of red wine..

Read about Mallorcan and Menorcan cheese, what is it made from?, where can you get it?, on SkyBlueMallorca.com

And while you are at it find out about the fabulous wines made in Mallorca to accompany your cheese.

New competition for November

This month's competition prize on SkyBlueMallorca.com is a lunch for two at the fabulous Mood Beach Restaurant in Costa d'en Blanes, Majorca. This fantastic restaurant is always running different events and parties which you can find out about in our calendar.
Enter the competition now by answering the following question;
Which port is nearest to Mood Beach Restaurant?
Please follow the instructions on the competition page to enter...

Discovering the José L Ferrer Wine Estate in Binissalem, Majorca

We have just included the José L Ferrer Wine Estate on SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide.

This wine estate or bodega is one of the wineries under the Designation of Origin Binissalem in Mallorca, and produces around 800,000 bottles of wine a year!

We went for a walk around the wine estate with the owner Jose Luis Roses Ferrer, watch a video of our mini tour on SkyBlue Mallorca.

Pure Passion

The Designation of Origin of wine from Binissalem, Mallorca presented their new marketing image at the Museum of Es Baluard in Palma. The new slogan, is 'pura passió' with a red heart showing the passion of the winemakers of the Binissalem area.

A new wine route has also been included in the publicity campaign so that tourists and other interested parties can drive around the area visiting the 14 wine estates of the D.O Binissalem

Read a further article about this on SkyBlueMallorca.com

Watch a video interview in Spanish about this event

Fine dining at Ca'n Calent

I was privileged enough to be able to try out Miquel Vicens' new autumn menu at Ca'n Calent Restaurant in Campos, Majorca.

Miquel changes his menu four times a year to reflect the different seasons and hopes that all his customers know where they are - in Mallorca! when they taste his food.

Pictured is an aperitif, cream of chickpeas with sobrassada and fish croquette.

Sal de Cocó

Do you know what Sal de Cocó is?

You do now..

Sal de Cocó is the name given to natural sea salt collected from the rocks by the fishermen in the area of the Balearic island of Cabrera and Colonia Sant Jordi.

Marta Rosselló a talented young Mallorcan chef has given her restaurant this name.

Read more about Sal de Cocó Restaurant

New Restaurants on SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide

Two new restaurants on SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide;

Antonio Restaurant in Colonia Sant Jordi - family restaurant specialising in Paellas and fish and rice dishes.

Cassai Restaurant in Ses Salines - Trendy restaurant in the middle of this Mallorcan village.

While on the subject of Paella why not enter this month's competition on SkyBlue Mallorca and win a meal for two at Tapelia Restaurant?

Menu presentation at Son Julia Restaurant, Gran Hotel Son Julia, Llucmajor, Mallorca

Chef Jordi Calvache presented his new menu at Son Julia Restaurant at the Gran Hotel Son Julia.
It was beautifully presented, and Jordi talked everyone through each dish. His focus is on seasonal produce, so lots of pumpkin, chestnuts, white truffle and mushrooms are included as well as all the autumn colours.

Read more about Jordi's new autumn menu on SkyBlue Mallorca Food & Wine Guide