Another week, and another place, in-fact another country! This week saw us in Mallorca, one of the Balearic Islands. Such a pretty place, a truly lovely island.

Sitting last week in the lounge at Heathrow Airport, I have to admit to being a little surprised . Some travellers were simply stuffing their carry on bags with Tyrell’s potato crisps but the best was filling ones water bottles ( this is after security) with white wine ! I guess it takes all sorts!

We were here with a group of good friends for a week of golf and food! The last time we were here was 7 years ago, all of course pre Pandemic! The Pandemic certainly played havoc with one’s memory! We stayed in the lovely Sheraton Arabella, with great views over one of their 3 golf courses. We played all three, to mixed acclaim and then the pièce de resistance was Alcanada. Maybe not the best of the four that we played but it certainly had the best views.

Mallorca has its own specialties when it comes to food. The first that springs to mind, which is often served with drinks or as part of Tapas, is Pa Amb Oli, which very simply means bread and oil, but in Mallorca it is much more than that. The simplest extra is with tomato. One has to have good rather solid bread. Bread has been around in Mallorca since before Roman times, but try using a good baguette which has been lightly toasted. Rub the bread with good olive oil and then cut a tomato ( preferably a Vine tomato, and preferably home grown or at least from a local market …… flavour is everything) and rub the tomato cut side down hard over the bread. And that is it ! Sprinkle with sea salt. Sometimes, some manchego cheese is added or iberico ham, but that is not traditional, BUT there is a world Pa AMB OLI championship which takes place on Balearic National in March.

Another traditional dish is called Samosas Mallorquines con Sobrasada and also Huevo Al Horno con Sobrasada. Translated as, Samosa with Sobrasada and Eggs with Sobrasada. But what is Sobrasada?

Sobrasada is a cured pork product mixed with various spices, a simple comparison would be Chorizo or Nduja, both being pork and spices.

Of course Mallorca being a Mediterranean island one would expect lots of Olives, Pork, Almonds and of course FISH. Fish in all shapes and sizes , ranging from Chipirones ( baby squid) fried in a tempura type batter, Cuttlefish, Eels, Salt Cod as a meal or as fritters, Frito de Pescado, ( Frito Misto) mixed fried fish, whitebait, baby squid, octopus, prawns and Sea Bass, Sea Bream, Halibut and Turbot. One of my favourites and I had on two consecutive evenings was grilled Octopus. Both days were good but the first served in a little restaurant in Soller ( pronounced more like Soy à).

On the day that we went to Soller, we went by tram, actually although you can drive, this is the best way to go over the mountain. The little tram trundles along and it reminds me of The Little Train that Could! Clunkity Clunk .

Once in Soller ( the journey takes about an hour), it is possible to take another smaller tram ride, down to the sea. We didn’t this time around but searched for a small restaurant for an early dinner. Soller is not huge, but the main square was heaving. We walked past the square and along Carrie de sa Luna, where we found Rest Carre Luna 36. A small place with a little courtyard and a few inside tables.

This is where we had Shrimp baby squid and Octopus! Had to be the best ever! We both had Octopus in Abu Dhabi last year which, was inedible actually even a steak knife wouldn’t cut it! Why? Because Octopus has to be precooked, either via Sous Vide or gently stewed until tender. Then it can be thrown onto a Barbecue to finish off.

We as a group ate in a very typical fish restaurant down a back street on the outskirts of Palma. The last time we ate here was in 2017, and I have to say that the atmosphere was not so good this time round, but there was nothing wrong with the food.

I was shopping the other day, in an American food store in London. Whole Foods, has a reputation of being upmarket and very good quality. I checked out the fish counter and the frozen fish counter. Here I found Octopus ! With the price they were asking, I think I will just have to settle to eat it, when I’m someplace where it is readily available.