Mallorca has plenty of traditional restaurants where a woman is at the helm in the kitchen. They’re often referred to as cooks, rather than chefs. But there are some women in restaurant kitchens on this island who are most definitely chefs. And two have just been selected by the travel guide Guía Repsol for inclusion in their list of the top ten women chefs in Spain.

Macarena de Castro (Jardín, Puerto Alcúdia) and María Solivellas (Ca Na Toneta, Caimari) represent Mallorca on the list. Macarena – who became the chef in her family’s restaurant at the age of 23 – has already been recognised with a Michelin star for her culinary talents.

Macarena de Castro

María Solivellas and her sister Teresa run Ca Na Toneta – located in a village famous for olives and olive oil (and the annual olive oil fair Fira de s’Oliva, in November).

Up there among the best

The Repsol Guide list of top ten women in kitchens in Spain also included Spanish TV’s Top Chef winner Begoña Rodrigo (La Salita, Valencia), and Elena Arzak (Arzak, San Sebastían) – named ‘World’s Best Female Chef’ in 2012 by British magazine Restaurant.

There are, of course, other very good female chefs working in restaurants on Mallorca. The following – in whose restaurants I have enjoyed eating – deserve a mention here:

• Cati Pieras – DaiCa, Llubí
• Svenja Gallé- Restaurant Bellaverde, Puerto Pollensa
• Irene Gutiérrez – Sumaq, Palma
• Marga Coll – Miceli, Selva
• Marta Rosselló – Sal de Cocó, Colònia de Sant Jordi

Woman-power is fuelling some memorable cuisine on Mallorca!

©Jan Edwards 2015