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Review: Sant Francesc Hotel Singular – Palma’s Old Town
Some lovely smaller hotels have opened in recent years in Palma’s Old Town – the most interesting of which was only this spring (2015). The 5-star Sant Francesc Hotel Singular is in the plaza of the same name, opposite the Sant Francesc Basilica. The 42-room hotel is a superb renovation of an old palacio, involving artisan work to restore many of the property’s original traditional features. It’s ultra-cool, contemporary, and comfortable. Not always a guaranteed combination. And it looks at its best at night, with romantic lighting.
We stayed for one night in a first-floor room, which open onto a large shared terrace – from which we had a glimpse of the hotel’s garden (note the vertical planting wall). As you’d rightly expect in a 5-star room, amenities were good and included a capsule coffee-making machine (with Nespresso capsules), well-stocked minibar, safe, and glossy magazines to read. I especially liked the delicious fig-scented Heeley toiletries in the bathroom.
View from our terrace of part of the garden (and dining area)
Eating
The temptation is to dine out in one of Palma’s restaurants – but Quadrat, the restaurant here, is well worth experiencing. I had previously had a good set lunch here, so dinner was a must-try. The dining room was once the palacio’s stables – spot hints of that in the décor. In fine weather, you can eat in the garden, which we did.
We ate from the à la carte menu, with a choice of around a dozen starters, a couple of rice dishes, three meat, and three fish dishes. We had a bottle of Mallorcan ‘rosado’ from Ribas (25€ – a fair price in this setting). We started with warm bread rolls with a local extra virgin olive oil – bottled for the hotel – and a delicious amuse bouche. Like many restaurants on Mallorca, a tasting menu is also offered: five courses for 45€. Our dinner was of a very high standard and we didn’t regret not going out to eat.
Dining indoors . . .
The tomato corner of the breakfast buffet!
Breakfast was also very good, with plenty of choice: cereals, fresh fruit, baked goods, preserves, cold meats, and cheeses. A whole host of egg dishes is offered – including the classic eggs Benedict – which are cooked to order.
Drinking
Have a drink in the hotel’s ground-floor bar, or at the poolside lounge/bar on the roof terrace, where you have views of the city skyline. It’s pretty special for a post-dinner cocktail at night (but the bar closes at midnight, which surprises those who think the Spanish party all night!).
Ground-floor bar
Part of rooftop pool area (where there’s also a bar/lounge)
If gastronomic indulgence calls for more exercise than a few gentle laps of the pool, head to the basement, where the weapons of torture (can you tell I’m no longer a gym bunny?) include free weights, exercise balls, and a couple of serious-looking Technogym machines – oh, and a glitter ball hanging from the ceiling! I figured walking down to the basement and back up was exercise enough . . .
The hotel has featured in numerous international glossy magazines and respected newspapers. We spent time by the pool chatting to an orthopaedic surgeon and his wife from Los Angeles. Word of this hotel has travelled around the world, thanks to the clever use of a professional PR agency in New York. Hotel Sant Francesc Singular is well and truly on the global map . . . and I think it’s worth the journey.
Foyer of hotel (looking towards entrance doors)
Prices correct at time of writing.
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Alcúdia’s boutique hotel with a heritage
Following a July 2018 visit, this post has undergone an update.
Mallorca now boasts some excellent boutique hotels and if, like me, your favoured type of hotel is one small enough to ensure a high degree of personal service, you have plenty of choice on the island.
I stayed for a night at Mallorca’s Hotel Can Mostatxins, in the old walled town of Alcúdia. I’d been keen to experience the place since it opened in late spring 2015 – and I wasn’t disappointed.
You can drive into the walled town to deposit your luggage, but it’s not far if you decide to park and make the short walk with your bags. Parking is easy – and free – just outside the mighty stone walls.
Hotel Can Mostatxins has its origins in a former 15th-century manor house, which had been neglected until British owner and property developer Mark Worthington came along. Turning the place into a stylish boutique hotel took six years, with many restored architectural features – such as Gothic arches and exposed stone walls – incorporated into the contemporary decor. And yes, it was definitely worth the wait.
What’s on offer at Can Mostatxins
The hotel has nine guest rooms. Two – of which one is a stunning suite – are in the building’s restored tower. It was occupied when I stayed, so I didn’t see it – but it’s on my list of rooms in which to stay with The Boss in the future.
My (very comfortable) bed for the night was in room 5, named Alcanada. The room had everything a travelling gal could need: safe; tea, coffee, and kettle; fridge (with complimentary water, milk, and bottle of cava – very welcoming); wall-mounted satellite TV; air conditioning; robe and slippers, and free Wi-Fi. And, for we girls who don’t like to go out with our skirts inadvertently tucked into our knickers (!), there’s a useful full-length mirror on the back of the room door, so you can check all is as it should be just before facing the world.
A unique feature of the hotel is the open central courtyard, below street level (and hidden from the outside world). It has a comfortable chill-out area and spa pool, where you can gaze up at the old stone walls – wishing they could speak and reveal stories from their past.
Breakfast buffet-style is the only meal offered here, but the walled town of Alcúdia has lots of eateries and the hotel can suggest places to suit individual tastes. On both my two stays (the latest in July 2018), I have eaten dinner at Italian restaurant Osteria El Patio, just around the corner from the hotel. It’s popular so be sure to book a table – especially if you’d like to eat in the large rear courtyard garden.
What’s in a name?
If you’re arriving by taxi and want to tell the driver in a confident manner where you’re going, here’s how to pronounce it:
“Hotel Can Moss-tatcheens”
Mostatxins was the nickname (derived from the Mallorcan word for ‘moustache’ ) of the building’s former owner Raphael Aguilo Valls – a distinctively moustached man who ran a butcher’s shop from the premises in the early 20th century. You’ll spot a few moustache motifs around the hotel . . .
Your hosts
Valentina and Luigi are leading the hospitality team in 2018 – a year in which exciting things are happening for Mostatxins Boutique Hotels. The next building along is to become the new Can Mostatxins Frare – due to open its doors (and 11 rooms) to paying guests by August 2018.
If you’re looking for a boutique hotel in Mallorca offering comfort, style, warm hospitality, and a sense of place and history, I can personally recommend a stay here in the delightful old town of Alcúdia.
Wherever I lay my head . . .
Spa pool and chill-out area in courtyard of Hotel Can Mostatxins.
Perfect for a dip
The attractive breakfast room
©Jan Edwards 2015. Some updates done in July 2018.
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Female Chefs on Mallorca in Repsol Guide’s Top Ten
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
Ca Na Toneta, Ca Na Toneta Caimari, Cati Pieras, Daica (Llubi), Fira de s’Oliva, Guia Repsol, Irene Gutierrez, Macarena de Castro, Mallorca, Marga Coll, Maria Solivellas, Marta Rossello, Miceli (Selva), Michelin-starred restaurants Mallorca, Repsol Guide, restaurant kitchens, Rte Bellaverde (Puerto Pollensa), Rte Jardin (Puerto Alcudia), Sal de Coco (Colonia de Sant Jordi, Sumaq (Palma), Svenja Galle, women chefs, women chefs on Mallorca -
Review of Finca Hotel Can Estades, Southwest Mallorca
UPDATE: AUGUST 2024. Christiane and Norbert retired from their role as hosts of Finca Hotel Can Estades at the end of July 2024. The French/Paraguayan couple, Ana and Victor Barrail, have taken over, fulfilling their own dream of running a small country hotel with charm in a beautiful location.
The southwest of Mallorca is home to the Calvià municipality – home of some of the island’s most popular resorts, marinas, and tourist attractions. But this area also offers tranquillity, and we found it staying in the rurally located Finca Hotel Can Estades, less than two kilometres from the village of Calvià.
An architectural feature
The Can Estades estate has been here since the 16th century, and is surrounded by lovely countryside, with views of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tramuntana mountain range. It’s well-signposted from the centre of the village. Through the hotel’s gated entrance, we parked our car and, before we could reach the door, the couple running the hotel came out to greet us.
Welcoming Hosts
Norbert and Christiane are German, but speak perfect English and offer warm hospitality to guests of all nationalities. We were offered a cold drink after our journey, and shown the whereabouts of a ‘fridge, from which we could help ourselves to drinks at any time (making a note of what we’d had).
As Norbert gave us a guided tour of the hotel – which has been superbly renovated and retains some traditional Mallorcan features – we spotted antique furniture, interesting artefacts, and lovely views through the windows. The hotel has its own mini-chapel and an old Mallorcan kitchen (the hotel’s modern version is next door to it), which must be a cosy place to sit in the cooler months.
The mini-chapel at Finca Hotel Can Estades.
Sitting room on upper floor.
Part of the original old kitchen.Our Room
Norbert showed us to our room – one of 12, all named after fruit. We stayed in ‘Apple’, which was spacious and had the benefit of a balcony, looking over the hotel’s vegetable garden, and with the pointy mountain known as Galatzó as a backdrop. The room and bathroom were immaculately presented and clean. We spent some time in the evening and early the following morning, sitting on the balcony and enjoying the utter peace.
The balcony of the room named Apple.
The church in nearby Calvia, from our balcony.
Estate orchards.A clever feature in our room was an air-conditioning unit disguised as a picture on the wall. No ugly modern air-conditioning units to spoil the décor here! There’s a small ‘fridge in the room in case you want to keep drinks cool, and a safe (available for small extra charge, but not large enough for a laptop). Norbert showed us how the satellite TV worked, but we didn’t have the time or inclination for television in such lovely surroundings.
Air-conditioning unit disguised as a picture
Although there is plenty of antique furniture in this hotel, the beds are modern and very comfortable, and there was a choice of pillows. Our home is in a very quiet valley and we’re used to silence at night. Luckily we had it here too, so we had an undisturbed and excellent night’s sleep.
Breakfast
We had coffee from a self-service machine, loaded with whole coffee beans. Christiane came to show us how it worked and moments after pressing the button we had excellent coffee – and not a capsule in sight. The buffet included rye bread made by Norbert, preserves made from fruit from the estate, a variety of hams, cheeses, pastries, home-made muesli, fruit, and yogurt.
Breakfast buffet.
A variety of hams and cold meats.
. . . and cheeses with home-made preserve.Norbert appeared in his red apron as we helped ourselves to the buffet, to offer a cooked breakfast. He’s apparently renowned for his egg-cooking and The Boss took advantage of the offer of freshly cooked bacon and eggs – and was pleased he had.
Although there’s an attractive dining room, breakfast is usually served on the terrace in good weather and we ate ours sitting under the shade of a huge tree, enjoying beautiful views and the promise of a new day.
Leisure Facilities
The pool in the late afternoon.
Old well on the pool terrace.
Home of the infrared sauna and gym equipment.
The pool reflected in the door of the infrared sauna.The hotel has a decent-sized pool, plenty of loungers on the surrounding terrace, and a separate building housing infrared sauna and a few pieces of gym equipment. If you want to play golf, ride a horse, go cycling, or hiking, this hotel is well located. Norbert and Christiane are happy to advise on all of these – and more.
Dinner
Dinner isn’t served at Finca Hotel Can Estades (although they do have a weekly BBQ for guests during the season). The hosts provide a helpful guide in the rooms about local facilities, beaches, and restaurants.
In Summary . . .
This hotel is steeped in Mallorcan character and charm but offers modern comforts and conveniences (including WiFi); although it’s in the countryside, access is quick and easy to the coastal resorts and tourist attractions; the hotel is peaceful and relaxing, and run by a couple who clearly enjoy what they do and put a lot of effort into looking after their guests. And those are just some of the reasons we plan to return to Mallorca’s Finca Hotel Can Estades one day-
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Insider tip for a good café in Manacor . . .
Whatever your reasons for visiting Manacor – and there are quite a few good ones – chances are that you’ll want a coffee/cold drink/something to eat while you’re in the town. But, with numerous cafés and bars in town, which do you choose?
Our recommendation is El Palau. This bright and smart café sits opposite Manacor’s imposing church and an ancient olive tree. It has shaded terrace seating and a spacious interior with attractive décor. The premises had been a café for many years before it changed hands and underwent a complete transformation. Its now a top place to drink or have a bite to eat in the centre of Manacor.
Exterior of Cafe El Palau, Manacor.
Fresh from the garden, and awaiting customers at Cafe El Palau.
Attractive decor inside (and air-conditioned).
Pick up some gourmet goodies while you’re here.
From interior of El Palau to terrace.
A little snack perhaps?
Drinks and eats
They use Marabans coffee – from Mallorca – and we’ve always had a good cup of coffee here. This morning The Boss had a frapuccino and declared it the best he’d ever had. I did have a small sip and although I only take coffee black usually, it was excellent. El Palau also offers a range of Marabans teas and, in the summer, iced tea. Smoothies and juices are good, and they offer cakes (some home-made), pastries, and filled rolls for those with a small gap to fill. In the evenings, it’s worth trying a cocktail here.
For lunch, try a pizza (8 varieties, including a vegetarian), ranging from 7,80 euros to 9,50 euros; choice of pasta dishes (all under 10 euros), and five different salads (8,50-9,50 euros).
Nofre, the friendly man who runs the place, uses fresh fruit and vegetables here from his partner’s garden. And lots of stuff is home-made: he makes the pizza bases on a Sunday afternoon and freezes them for the week ahead. So no mass-produced pizzas here! The pasta is artisan-made by an Italian friend of his.
Good to Know
Nofre has created a café that’s doing something different from many of the others in the town. He likes to practise his English, so if you don’t speak Spanish, this is definitely a place to head for.
Closed Sundays (when Nofre is gardening and making pizza bases!).
Plaça del Rector Rubí, 8, Manacor – Tel 971 845 163
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Review of dinner at Petit Hotel Son Arnau, Selva
Petit Hotel Son Arnau is one of a growing number of stylish boutique hotels in rural Mallorca. On the edge of the village of Selva (just a couple of kilometres from Inca), it opened at the beginning of 2014 and is run by Alex and Susan Terry. You can read their story in my article for abcMallorca here: http://issuu.com/abc-llorca.com/docs/76th_abcmallorca_summer_edition/79?e=0
Dinner at Petit Hotel Son Arnau
One of several new paintings in the hotel dining room since our previous visit.
Although the hotel dining room is not open to the public, we were lucky enough to be able to join friends there for dinner last week. Alex – whose background is in banking – has come into his own in the kitchen, and the multilingual Susan – who previously worked in the hospitality industry – is a really delightful hostess in the dining room. We’d already recognised that last year when we stayed at the hotel (see my post on this blog of August 14th), but this hardworking and welcoming couple has since gained in experience and confidence and it’s clear that they are loving it. And so are their guests, it seems.
Dinner menu
Dinner for guests this year costs 26 euros for three courses (with choices), including bread, olives and alioli made from milk rather than eggs. We’d also had the latter at Sol y Vida restaurant in Cala Murada. The menu changes daily and is based on fresh market produce. On the night we visited this was on offer:
Mediterranean chicken and pasta salad
o
Chili king prawn cocktail
o
Bruschetta of mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil and balsamic glaze on rustic bread
– – –
4-hour slow-cooked leg of lamb
o
Tuna tataki with a toasted sesame seed dressing on a bed of cucumber and radish salad
o
Warm cauliflower salad
– – –
Spanish orange cake with fresh fruits
Optional selection of cheeses with tomato chutney – supplement of 5 euros.
A delicious starter: chili king prawns
Meltingly tender lamb and lentils.
Susan’s gluten-free orange cake (made with almond flour). Divine.
Special mention should be given to the Spanish orange cake, which was moist and full of flavour – and made by Susan. It looked so good I dived straight in, forgetting that I hadn’t taken a photograph. When Susan removed the empty slate, I mentioned this – only to be presented with a second portion a few moments later! I should like to place on record that this additional portion was shared after its moment in front of the camera!
Wines on their small but interesting list are Mallorcan and Spanish. We had a 2007 Cabernet i Callet (local grape variety) from Jaume Bennassar (a part-time winemaker who owns the restaurant in Orient famous for suckling pig). It was excellent and cost 23 euros.
Kitchen open four nights a week
Alex and Susan offer dinner for their guests on four nights a week; for those staying on the other nights, my own suggestions (in no particular order) for eating out in the vicinity are:
- Miceli, Selva
- Joan Marc, Inca
- Celler Can Amer, Inca
- Ca Na Toneta, Caimari (the next village, towards the mountains)
- Santi Taura, Lloseta (but you’d need to book way ahead)
- Sa Fábrica, Inca
I know that Alex and Susan will have additional recommendations to share with their guests.
If you’re staying at Petit Hotel Son Arnau, be sure to eat dinner in the hotel on at least one night. And in the warmer weather, it’ll be served on their village-view terrace.
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Adopt a Mallorcan Olive Tree
If I had to name my one indispensable Mallorcan product – apart from the wines! – it would have to be the island’s luscious extra virgin olive oil. Olive trees first came to Mallorca more than two thousand years ago and today there are thousands of hectares of land devoted to growing the trees. Many of them are more than a hundred years old, and nature and time have sculpted their trunks into living artworks – shapes that further enhance the already rugged and spectacular beauty of the island’s rural landscape.
Visit the Tramuntana mountain range (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and you’ll see amazing examples of these ancient trees – many grown on stone-sided terraces hewn from the mountainside by hand.
Inspiring artists and writers
In the heart of the mountains is the world-famous village of Deià. Writer and poet Robert Graves lived (and is buried) here, and it continues to be a magnet for artists and creative people seeking inspiration from their surroundings. Many artists and sculptors have been inspired by the twisted gnarled trunks of ancient olive trees.
The village is also famous for the 5-star hotel known today as Belmond La Residencia. Numerous notable people have stayed here, and the famous British businessman and founder of Virgin, Richard Branson, used to own it. We’ve had three one-night stays in this hotel in past and it always has a slight feel of a top-quality English country house hotel – but with Mediterranean cuisine and ambience and, of course, much better weather! It’s a member of the Leading Hotels of the World consortium.
An olive grove restoration project
In its former life the hotel was an estate where olive oil was produced, and the intention is to restore the 14 hectares of mountain olive groves, which are home to more than 1,500 olive trees – some over a thousand years old. Olive production from these groves is increasing year by year as the trees are looked after again.
Of course, dedicating time and expertise into restoring the groves costs money. But the hotel – an innovator in many areas – has come up with the idea of offering olive trees for adoption. Anyone wanting to do this will be allocated a tree, and ownership will be marked by means of their name sculpted into an olive wood plaque. The money raised from the scheme will go towards the restoration and care of the trees. And each year those who adopt a tree will receive a bottle of the ‘liquid gold’ extra virgin olive oil produced from the estate’s olives.
Olive oil at Belmond La Residencia Deia, Mallorca. Photo courtesy of hotel.
These venerable trees are a part of the island’s history, as well as its future as a producer of delicious and incredibly healthy olive oil. If you’d like to help Belmond La Residencia’s olive grove restoration project, adopting one of their olive trees will cost you 200 euros, for one year. And coming to see your tree would be a great excuse to stay at this beautiful hotel . . . if one were needed!
To adopt your own olive tree in beautiful Deià, Mallorca, or for more information, contact Hanna Bornebusch, PR manager at La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel.
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Review of Son Brull Hotel & Spa, Pollensa
The impressive glass door into Son Brull Hotel and Spa
The Boss and I recently celebrated our anniversary and marked the occasion with a stay at the rurally located Son Brull Hotel & Spa, near Pollensa in the north of Mallorca. It was the third time we had stayed here, and each stay has been off-season. One day we will get to swim in their large outdoor pool and relax afterwards on the surrounding terraces with a long cold drink, wearing one of the Son Brull straw hats they thoughtfully provide for guests . . .
Before I mention some of the things we love about this place, here’s a quick history lesson. Yes, this may be a 5-star hotel with every mod-con for the discerning traveller, but it’s also a place with an interesting backstory.
Once upon a time . . .
In the 15th century, a man by the name of Francesc Desbrull bought pieces of land around the area of Pollensa, after having married a woman from the village. On one of his land purchases he built a house, which became known as Son Brull. In 1686 the estate fell into the hands of the Jesuits and, in 1745, they began the construction of the building that still exists and today is the hotel. They didn’t get to enjoy the estate for too long: in 1767 King Carlos III drove the Jesuits out of Spain and Son Brull became the property of the State. By 1865 it was in the hands of the Conde de Sant Simón.
At the end of the 19th century and through the 20th century, the Son Brull estate was mainly agricultural, producing olive oil, cereals, almonds, and carobs, and with sheep and pigs grazing on the land. Until the end of the 20th century, the building retained its monastery-like interior, with small cells and wide corridors.
21st-century Son Brull
In July 2003, Son Brull opened as a luxury boutique hotel, with 23 guest rooms. Today, there’s not a small cell to be seen (or stayed in), but the Son Brull estate still has an olive oil press, flour mill, and a well – all of which would have been powered by mules back in the day – to remind guests that this 5-star hotel has a heritage.
For sale in the hotel ‘store’ – gold-dusted almonds (as served in the restaurant with the appetizer).
Son Brull-branded goods in the ‘store’.
Mallorcan jeweller Isabel Guarch has a display case in the hotel.
Artistic touches in hotel foyer
Part of U Bar at Son Brull
Suite dreams.
Two of those loungers are reserved for us this summer
Outdoor art at the front of the hotel.
Part of the hotel’s vineyard
View from the side of the hotel.Son Brull highlights
- The hotel modernised its multimedia devices over the winter, but retained the upmarket B&O brand. All guest rooms now have a BeoPlay V1 40-inch TV set, offering channels in various languages, and the ability to connect to the Internet, watch Blu-Ray, Apple TV, connect a portable hard drive, or games console.
- There’s a choice of pillows and even sheets. Their bedding is 100 per cent Egyptian cotton but, pay a supplement and you can sleep on 100 per cent linen instead. A luxury that is sadly beyond our own budget.
- Bathroom amenities are excellent. They even provide a hairbrush and make-up remover wipes, along with the more customary aids for the forgetful packer (or the space-challenged cabin-baggage-only guest who flies to the island by budget airline). Toiletries are from Think Cosmetics, based in nearby Pollensa. (If you like the products, be sure to visit the Think Cosmetics shop (C/ Calvari, 1).
- If you’re lucky enough to have space in your luggage, a browse of their ‘store’ area in reception could help you fill it, and provide a reminder of your Son Brull stay.
- This year the hotel has added a gym, with views of citrus groves as you work out on the Technogym equipment.
- The hotel is decorated with contemporary works – many by local Mallorcan artists.
- Son Brull has its own-branded wine, gin, and limoncello. It would be rude not to try at least one, don’t you think?
- The staff. The people who work here are hospitable, friendly, and professional. Example: we arrived for (an excellent) dinner in the hotel’s 3/65 Restaurant to be greeted by name by the maître d’ Joan. We were sure he couldn’t have remembered us from our last visit (more than a year ago): the management had obviously communicated with him that we were on a return stay. Details like that earn brownie points from me. Well done, Son Brull.
Of course, you don’t have to be celebrating a special occasion to stay at Son Brull Hotel & Spa. But even the romantically challenged will find something here to make the heart quicken. And I’m not talking about the gym equipment . . .
©Jan Edwards 2015
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Another tapas treat from Chefs(in)
March 1st is a public holiday on Mallorca (and her sister islands) as it’s Día de les Illes Balears. There is always a lot going on around this date and, this year, one of the must-do things for foodies is a tapas event known as Peccata Minuta, on Saturday, February 28th. These tapas feasts are organized by Chefs(in), and have proved very popular in Palma de Mallorca and in Inca.
This time, Peccata Minuta is taking place in two locations on the same day: Palma (at Santa Catalina’s indoor market) and at the fish market in Ciutadella, Menorca.
Seven chefs will be sharpening their knives for the Palma event, each creating one superb tapa towards what will be a complete menu:
Víctor García (La Fortaleza, Cap Rocat Hotel)
Marc Fosh (Simply Fosh, Palma – with one Michelin star)
Elisabeth Julienne
Tomeu Martí (Arume, Palma)
Tomeu Torrens (Celler de Can Amer, Inca)
William Tetard (Ses Rotges, Cala Ratjada)
Miquel Gelabert (Can March, Manacor)
Tomeu Martí, working his magic at Arume
Because space is limited in Santa Catalina market, there’s a change to the way this edition of Peccata Minuta is being run. Instead of buying tickets at the entrance for the number of individual dishes you want to try, there’s one ticket to cover all seven dishes – and they’re being offered in advance, via the Chefs(in) website.
I’m looking forward to trying the food of Víctor García (I still haven’t eaten at La Fortaleza) and Elisabeth Julienne, who is based on Menorca, as these are the only two whose cuisine I haven’t tried. Should be a great night – and wonderful celebration of Balearic gastronomy.
Peccata Minuta
February 28th, 21:00h-midnight
Mercat de Santa Catalina
Palma de Mallorca
Tickets and information: http://www.chefsins.com
Arume, Balearics Day, Can March, Celler de Can Amer, Chefs(in), Ciutadella, Día de les Illes Balears, Elisabeth Julienne, La Fortaleza de Cap Rocat, Marc Fosh, Menorca, Mercat de Santa Catalina, Mercat des Peix, Michelin-starred restaurant in Palma de Mallorca, Miquel Gelabert, Peccata Minuta Palma de Mallorca, Ses Rotges, Simply Fosh, Tomeu Martí, Tomeu Torrens, Victor Garcia, William Tetard -
Seven Tried-and-Tested Hotels on Mallorca (part three)
And so to the final hotel in Mallorca we had the pleasure of staying in during 2014.
Fontsanta Hotel, Campos
View of one of Fontsanta Hotel’s outdoor pools
For my birthday we booked dinner and an overnight stay in Fontsanta Hotel – a 5-star property near Campos in the south of Mallorca. It’s the sister property to Hotel Can Simoneta (Canyamel) and Hotel Convent de la Missió (home of the Michelin-starred Marc Fosh restaurant) in Palma. Like Es Revellar Art Hotel, Fontsanta Hotel has something unique to offer: it’s home to the only natural thermal spring water in the Balearic Islands, making its spa very special.
Healing Powers
The emerging thermal waters . . .
There are several stories about how the water was discovered. Some say the Ancient Romans discovered it during their occupation of Mallorca. Another says that in ancient times an epidemic was decimating the population of the island – but that wild animals in the vicinity of the springs were thriving. People came to the area from all over the island because of the water’s apparent healing powers. Basic lodgings were built in the 16th century to accommodate pilgrims who came for the therapeutic waters. In 1845 a building to house the thermal baths was opened.
So what’s so special about this water, which emerges from the ground at 38 degrees Celius? As it comes up from underground it acquires a high level of minerals – predominantly chlorine and sodium, in the form of salts, along with smaller concentrations of magnesium, calcium, sulphur, potassium, and fluorine. Found to be beneficial for the skin, and blood and lymphatic circulation, the waters were declared suitable for public use in 1869.
Unique views too
In 2012, after an extensive renovation of the estate, today’s 25-room Fontsanta Hotel opened. It’s spacious, stylish, luxurious, and has exceptional views out to the salt flats for which this area is renowned. White salt mountains and pink flamingos add to the scenic interest.
During our stay we spent some time in the spa, swimming in the indoor pool (there are two outdoor pools and several outdoor Jacuzzi pools too), and soaking in one of the several individually-roomed thermal baths. We both noted how soft our skin felt afterwards.
Cool and contemporary hotel lounge
There’s a heartwarming story behind this art installation of sperm (!), located in the hotel foyer.
I could write lots more about this hotel, and we intend to return to use more of its spa facilities. Personal highlights included: Bulgari toiletries in the room; the option of the special wellness breakfast items (including gluten-free crêpes, tofu sausages, and large choice of teas), and something that I’d never experienced before on Mallorca. When we were presented with the menus in the restaurant, they each came with a zipped case containing a magnifying glass with inbuilt light. I could read the menu without having to scrabble around in my handbag for my specs. A brilliant idea!
Fontsanta closes for a period of the winter.
©Jan Edwards 2015
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