Eating out

 

• So, what’s it to be? Spicy meatballs and big juicy olives at a tapas bar? Or maybe some good old-fashioned egg and chips down at a greasy spoon? Eating out is a pleasure in these parts because the choice stacks up pretty much wherever you go. Little wonder then the island’s such a hit with culinary queen Delia Smith. As you’d probably expect from the capital, Palma goes all out to dazzle in the culinary stakes. Whether you’re after a Michelin-starred temple serving gourmet cuisine or a simple tapas bar that screams old Spain, you’ll find it all here. Elsewhere, Magaluf and Palma Nova are jam-packed with restaurants and fast-food joints serving up a taste of home. This is the place to come if you’re hankering for things like all-day fry-ups, fish and chips and gravy-soaked Sunday roasts. There are lots of other flavours tossed into the melting pot, too. Italian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, you name it, the big resorts will probably serve it. In terms of ‘must try’ local dishes, give the roast suckling pig a whirl. Try ‘tumbet’, too - a ratatouille-style delight stuffed with aubergines, peppers and potatoes. As you’d expect, ocean-fresh fish is easy to come by and monkfish and bream make regular appearances on the menus. Keep an eye out for ‘serviola a la mallorquina’. It’s a baked fish smothered in tomato sauce and sprinkled with pine nuts and raisins. Another dish to look out for is ‘fideua’, a tasty paella that’s made with noodles instead of rice, with fish, crab and shrimps providing the supporting cast. Last but not least, we can’t talk about Majorca’s savoury offering without paying homage to pa’amb oli. In its simplest form it’s Majorcan bread drizzled in olive oil, but you’ll often find it with garlic, tomato and sometimes cured ham or cheese. For a light bite, it’s just the ticket. For those of you with a sweet tooth, try a slice of ‘turron’, the delicious local nougat. Or go all out with a wedge of ‘greixonera de brossat’, a heavenly cheesecake that’ll have you coming back for seconds. And to wash it down with? It has to be a glass of something fruity from Binissalem, Majorca’s wine-making hub.