Ibiza Hotels, Majorca Hotels, Apartments, Accommodation

I guess some of you will enjoy a nice Mallorca accommodation in September. After the warm times of summer, you will finally be able to appreciate nice temperatures and beautiful landscapes.

After a beach day, we all know that you will be hungry! Then it is the perfect moment to taste one of the Majorca speciality: the Ensaïmada, on the terrace of one of your Hotel Mallorca.

This mallorcan speciality was originally made for fiestas and celebrations. It is now entirely part of the island culture and is a reference for the reputation of Majorca, internationally speaking. In 1854, the emperor Garin opened a "Pasteleria" in Puerta del Sol (Madrid) named "la Mallorquina" which made the Ensaimada famous in Spain.

There are different variants of Ensaimada: the "Llisa" (original one), the "Cabell d'Angel" (Angel's hair), the "Tallades" (sliced), and the ones filled with cream, chocolate or turron paste or covered with apricots.

The original Ensaimada receipt is really easy to prepare but you have to be patient before you can eat it because it take much time for the dough to rest.

You just need:

-          500g of strong flour

-          80 g sugar

-          2 eggs

-          2 table spoon vinegar

-          50 g reduced pork lard named saïm

-          Mother dough

-          Salt

And here it goes:

Lay the flour on the table with the mother dough, the salt and the half of sugar and put 100ml of water in the middle. Knead the dough with your hands to obtain a perfect and compact ball. Incorporate the rest of sugar and let the dough rest during 4 hours.

Then, form cylinders with 100g of dough, and repeat the operation as longer as there is dough. And turn the cylinders on the hob to do some kinds of escargots (20-25cm). After that, let the escargots rest during 6 or 7 hours in a covered or closed store so that the dough goes 2 times bigger.

Finally, before putting them into the oven for 15mn (th 7), spray your escargots with water and icing sugar. Let them glaze and spray them again with icing sugar once you take them off from the oven.

And let them get cold before eating!!!

Anecdote: To tell whether pork lard has been used, if one can't tell by taste, a true ensaïmada must stain a piece of paper with the pork lard (which when heated has a similar texture to oil).

On January 16^th and 17^th on Majorca and the other Balearic Islands Ibiza and Menorca, the San Antoni Festival is celebrated throughout the island. San Antonio Abad, or Saint Anthony the Great, is the patron saint of animals and also of the Balearic Islands, so of course he is celebrated there in January.

January in Majorca is a good time to spend in a cheap Majorca hotel, because with the main tourists gone and the Majorca weather much milder than in other countries, you can fully enjoy true Majorca festivals and events during your holidays.

San Antoni Abad was an Egyptian monk living around the third century. He lived as an hermit in the desert in Egypt and it is said that the devil tried to tempt him because of his ascetic life. One of these temptations or battles against the devil is said to have taken place in a cave, filled with demons who battled with San Antonio. He survived and his fight against the demons is reflected today in the Majorca traditions during this event.

During the San Antoni Festival Majorca, people dress up as devils and dance around fire, symbolizing the victory of Sant Antonio Abad over the demons in the cave. The bonfires are lit everywhere the day before Sant Anthony, on the 16^th January, and create a magical atmosphere you shouldn't miss during your Majorca holidays. Usually people traditionally also burn little devil puppets, called dimoni and wear masks. Fire is an important element for San Antoni Abad, as it acts as a remedy against the devils temptations and sins, so the bonfires are an important element during this Majorca event.

Dancing around fire and singing rather obscene and lewdly songs, but also traditional songs like the tonada de Sant Antoni, Majorca people stay up until the morning on the San Antoni Festival and enjoy a welcoming and exciting atmosphere.

So, the next day during your Majorca holidays in a hotel or apartment, you should see the beneides, or animal blessings held in many places. Saint Anthony the Great or San Antonio Abad is the patron saint of animals, like mentioned before, and on the 17^th it is not uncommon in Majorca and Ibiza to bless their animals in a church. What day could be better for that?

Majorcan people prepare dinner on the 17^th, expecting a lot of visitors on this day. The festival of San Antoni is also a perfect occasion to appreciate and enjoy the delicious Majorcan food, a cuisine known to be tasty and interesting. Dinner during this event is most times something traditional, like the espinagada, made from different vegetables found on the island and eel, a type of seafood very popular in Majorca.

You see, the San Antoni Festival Majorca is probably one of the most important festivals and events on Majorca, including Ibiza and Menorca as well, seeing that Saint Anthony is the patron saint of the Balearic Islands. If you book already now your accommodation for holidays in Majorca, like a hotel or apartment, you can be sure to take part in this festival without stress.

The San Antoni Festival Majorca is absolutely breathtaking, and also in January, the New Year's Concert in Palma de Majorca takes place. Spend Majorca holidays full of traditional events in January!

On the 1st of November 2010, the catholic holiday All Saints Day or Día de Todos Los Santos is celebrated in Spain. This day is one the most important religious holiday in Spain!

On All Saints Day in Ibiza the people remember their late relatives and friends by visiting the graveyards and cemeteries and attending a church mass.
In Ibiza, similar to the rest of Spain, families visit cemeteries to clean the graves of their relatives and decorate them with colorful flowers. Candles are also lit and there are processions, also attended by people who don't have relatives on the graveyard!

Although the cemeteries on Ibiza are locked and only family members are allowed to visit the graves, bigger cemeteries are open for visitors. So during your stay in your Ibiza accommodation, you could attend a mass and pay your respect to the dead. It is important to know that Ibiza is not only good for vacation in Spain, but also local customs.

While the overall feeling of All Saints Day in Ibiza is sentimental, the holiday is still a joyful day! And if you have the chance to plan your vacation in Spain and book a nice hotel in Ibiza around that time, you have to try the traditional food served on this day!

A traditional dish is Castañas, roasted chestnuts often served with sweet potatoes which are delicious to eat.
Also very typical traditional dishes of Ibiza are sweet little almond or marzipan cakes, which are called Panellets.
Originally they were served after funerals in the past, but luckily today you can enjoy them without attending a funeral! And did you know that these Panellets are Traditional Speciality Guaranteed? That means you can basically eat a part of Ibiza's culture that sets it apart from others.
This is an unique chance that shouldn't be missed!

On All Saints Day in Ibiza, traditional Ibiza families also light a candle on the table and leave some of the tasty dishes as a symbol to honor their late relatives.

Please keep in mind that All Saints Day is a public holiday, so most shops are closed. Hospitals are of course still open. This year in 2010, the 1st of November is a Monday, so it is better to finish your shoppings before the weekend.

But in touristic areas, there are restaurants and bars that are still open. So why don't you celebrate All Saints Day in an Ibiza way?

If you are going to spend some days in a Majorca hotel or in a Majorca apartment you probably wonder what are the things you must do and try and what are the food specialties and traditional products. In this article, I will introduce you one product you can't miss: dried apricots from Porreres.

Indeed, the Balearic Islands seem to have the ideal climate to product delicious apricots that are exported all over the world. With the Balearic sunshine, the apricots have a sweet taste and are ready to consume during the summer months. After that period, the sun turns them into dry apricots so that the islanders can enjoy it all year round. This fruit is frequently used in the Balearic cuisine, in pastries, ice cream but also to make sauce.

The most famous village for its apricot production is Porreres, in the Pla's district. The dried apricots of this village are exported all over the world with a lot of success due to their particular taste and properties that permit to beat all the competitors. One of the firm well know for that is Can Carri, who diversify its offer with dried apricot in chocolate or other innovations.

Don't hesitate to taste any of the apricots pastries or apricots products from Can Carri, if you like refreshing and tasty fruits, you will simply love them!

Mallorca is a center for restaurants that offer Mediterranean cuisine. Beside typical Spanish cuisine, there are also Italian and French delicacies on the menu. But what about traditional Mallorquin cuisine?

The "Es Pinerat" is one of those restaurants that dedicated to the typical Mallorquin cuisine. Therefore, it is no wonder that even locals make their way to the restaurant. That is also an indicator that the Es Pinaret is not a typical tourist restaurant. Those of you who would like to discover the typical Mallorquin cuinine, should take a trip from their Mallorca hotel or their Mallorca apartment in the beautiful backcountry.

Located between Pines, this elegant restaurant in funshied with bright wooden walls providing this restaurant with a typical country house atmosphere. Due to its secluded location a walk through the beautiful landscape after or before your visit is very advisable. The kitchen is open from 7 - 11pm from Monday to Saturday. Sundays are open at noon during winter months (December - March) and in the evening during the rest of the year.

Peter Urbach is the head cook that provides you with delicacies allaying your hunger. Among the specialties of the house, there are plenty of meat and fish dishes. During summer time, these will even be grilled outside, surrounded by pine trees in the warm summer sun. Thus, you will not only be offered high quality Mallorquin food but also a relaxing and natural atmosphere.

Address.

Ctra. Ses Salines-Colònia de Sant Jordi, km 2,5
E 07640 Ses Salines
Telefon: 0034 971649230
Email: info@es-pinaret.de
Internet: www.es-pinaret.de 

As already mentioned in the first part of the restaurant guide, Mallorca has plenty of high class restaurant to offer. Another restaurant that earns the award of a "gourmet restaurant" is the Cavall Bernat in the North of the island.

Located in a cosy and idyllic village, to be exact in Cala Sant Vicenç, this restaurant is not only a perfect destination for a day trip from your accommodation in Mallorca, such as a hotel in Mallorca into the backcountry, but also a beautiful place to rest. After enjoying your lunch or dinner in the restaurant, a walk to the coastline is advisable.

But before, you might have the pleasure to meet Renato Rosano, the head cook of the restaurant. He specializes in Mediterranean cuisine with seasonal ingredients and those coming from the region. Also, the fish cuisine is very famous and is usually served with a good Spanish wine. Alternatively, there are also numerous international wines available.

The restaurant is part of the hotel Hotels Cala Sant Vicenc. Business hours are normally from 7:30pm to 10pm during the summer months. Due to its popularity, a reservation is desirable.

Address:

C/. Maressers, 2
E 07469 Cala Sant Vicenç
Telefon: 0034 971530250
Fax: 0034 971532084

The beautiful Balearic island Mallorca counts more than 1200 restaurants. Less than half of them can be considered as a "gourmet restaurant". What restaurant you should not miss when spending your holidays in Mallorca  show the following paragraphs:

Mallorca is still one of the most visited islands in Europe. Therefore, it is no wonder that plenty of high class restaurants settled there to satisfy the wants and needs of the international audience. One example of such a gourmet restaurant that you can visit while staying in a Mallorca hotel or in a Mallorca apartment is the Restaurant Parlament.

Located at the heart of Palma, this restaurant is specialized in Mediterranean Cuisine. Its name comes from the past of the building: long time ago, the parliament of the Balearic island was situated in the very same building. Therefore, you can imagine how the atmosphere must be in a palace like this.

Two "star cooks" with the name Javier Villero and Martin Vera will serve you whilst staying at one of the most exclusive places on the island. The dishes will be made of local ingredients. The menu contains several Mediterranean delicacies.

Address:

C/. Conquistador, 11
E 07001 Palma
Telephone: 0034 971726026
Fax: 0034 971710074
Email: info@restaurantparlament.com
Internet: www.restaurantparlament.com

Finally there is once again Christmas time. But if you want to escape the whole stress at home and want to experience something new, why don´t you plan a Majorca holiday during this period of time. So just book one of our cheap and comfortable hotels in Majorca and you can relax and celebrate the time with your sweethearts.
But you have to be aware that the traditions concerning the feast are quite different then you might know it from at home. The main difference is that the real celebration takes place on the 6th of January, on the Twelfth Day. It is also the day when children will get their presents. But if you are thinking there are no presents before this day at all you are wrong. Already on the 24th of December, the holy night, the "Olentzero" comes to town late at night to drop of things for the children. He is welcomed with a special and typical song that is sung by the children of the village.
Another popular tradition is the performances of scenes of the Christmas night, for example the child murder of Herodes. You can find them in every village and city.
Also the houses are decorated. But a little bit different as you might expect it. So the Christmas tree and socks in front of the chimney are not common. A main part is the nativity set which you can find everywhere. In this time the windows are decorated with "Neules" which are made of paper and are a typical decoration on the island.
On Christmas Eve the whole family meets for dinner which can take several hours. Afterwards the typical dessert is served - the turron. It is a sweet consisting of almond, honey, sugar and eggs.
The most families will go after the dinner to the holy mass where the complete town is meeting. They meet to sing and dance.
But as mentioned the main celebration takes place on the 6th of January. But the three Magi will come to town already the day before. They are welcomed by the inhabitants and there are big parades. Casper, Melchior and Balthasar throw sweets to the crowd. At evening the children prepare some water for the camels and turron for the kings. Then on the next morning it is replaced with presents.
So come to Majorca and experience a new way to celebrate Christmas! Feliz Navidad!

Throughout history, the Balearic Islands have been inhabited by people with many different origins and cultural backgrounds. The location in the Mediterranean made the Balearics a perfect haven for Arabic, African, Persian and European folks that settled on or visited the islands.

The influences of all these different cultures can be found in today's Balearic kitchen. The basics come from the Catalan mainland in the Northeast of Spain. Fish and seafood are of course one of the most important ingredients. Besides that there are many meat dishes and sausages and products made out of the Mallorcan lard. Mallorca is renowned for the cultivation of oranges, olives and almonds which are also widely used. The restaurants of most Mallorca hotels offer a wide menu with both international and traditional Island dishes. The quality as well as the variety of the menus in Mallorca and Ibiza hotels are improving every year.

Cooks on Mallorca are experts in preparing soups. On the traditional way soup is being prepared in a ceramic kettle on low fire. One absolutely has to try the „sopes mallorquines" made out of vegetables and brown bread. In the inlands of Menorca you can try „el Oliaigo", a refreshing soup made out of oil, water, garlic and tomato. Another typical Menorcan dish is the lobster stew, or the widelier available fish stew, which in combination with bread are an excellent apetizer. To finish of a nice diner on a typical Menorcan way one has to eat the cheese of Maó. It originally came from Italy in the 15th century and today it's listed as among the best cheeses in Europe.

The Balearic Islands also produce some excellent wines to accompany the Island specialties. And after diner there's nothing better than to enjoy a nice Menorca gin, the islands heritage from the time of British occupation. You can experience all these delicacies during your Balearic Island holiday.

The Balearic Island Mallorca is known for its comprehensive Mediterranean cuisine. A stay on Mallorca is not just profitable to explore the beautiful nature of the island or relax at the beach, but also to get to know the unique cuisine of Mallorca. So you see that spending your holiday on Mallorca is advantageous in many aspects. There is a big number of Mallorca hotels where you can recover from your stressful job.

The traditional cuisine of Mallorca mainly includes pork, fish and vegetables with a extensive usage of garlic and olive oil. There are a lot of variations of Sausages. Once you have the Sobrasada, which is roughly minced and flavored with hot red pepper. Then you have the Botifarro. This is cured pork with blood. At the end you will of course find the spicy Chorizos.
In every Bar on Mallorca you can of course also find the delicious Serrano ham which is really popular and famous in Spain. Tasting all this makes your Mallorca holiday special.

Although Paella is not part of the typical cuisine of Mallorca, you can still find it almost everywhere in all kinds of variations. Another delicacy of Mallorca is saffron rice which is cooked with chicken, pork and vegetables. Thru the closeness to the sea you can find all kinds of variations of fish on the plate. You will mainly find prawns, sardines and perches. Another delicacy of Mallorca is Perch which is backed in stone salt.

If you now feel like tasting all of this, then come to Mallorca and enjoy the delicious cuisine of Mallorca. But there is of course not just the cuisine that invites you to Mallorca, because the nature and the culture of Mallorca is also great to be discovered. You can also travel to one of the other Balearic Islands to explore their cuisine and nature. There you also have the choice of numerous Balearic Island hotels where you can have a good time. Do not hesitate to visit the Balearic Islands. You will not regret it!

Majorca is the largest island of the Balearic Islands and offers a total of 2.000 hectare vineyard area. Most of the Majorcan wines are red, approximately a third of the Majorcan wines are white wines. Don't forget to make to trip to the fantastic vineyard areas during your Majorca holiday!






D.O. (Denominación de origen)

D.O. is the certificate of origin of Spanish products, especially of the wine. At the moment their are approximately 66 DO's. I would like to present you the two vineyard areas Binissalem and Plà i Llevant. Stay in a comfortable accommodation in Majorca and taste the fantastic Majorcan wines. There are numerous great Majorca hotels and apartments in Majorca.

Binissalem:
The area, covered by the DO, is located in the centre of the island, northeast of the town of Palma. Benissalem mostly uses the both grape varieties Manto Negro and Moll. It offers a total of 400 hectare vineyard area. The red wines are very alcoholic and harmonic. The area includes the borderlines of five communities: Santa Maria del Cami, Consell, Binissalem, Sencelles und Santa Eugenia. In the late 20th century there was a revival of the wine industry due to the demand for quality wine by tourists. It acquired its DO status in 1991.

Plà i Llevant:
Among the grape varieties are Callet, Fogoneu, Tempranillo, Manto Negro, Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot und Syrah. The vineyard area contains 340 hectare. In 1991 the area was classified as Vinos de la Tierra and in 2001 it acquired its DO status.

In Majorca there are approximately 1200 restaurants, about 120 of them are considered as top- restaurants. The Majorcan gastronomy is considered as a gourmet kitchen since 10 years. The restaurants offer a variety of different tastes. Beside the traditional Majorcan kitchen there are the Mediterranean and Spanish kitchen, as well as the international kitchen with courts from the Basque region and from Galicia.

Book a comfortable accommodation in Majorca e.g. the 3 - stars Majorca hotel "Almudaina". In the immediate vicinity of this air- conditioned city hotel in Majorca there are numerous, delicate restaurants. A further great accommodation is the "Armadams" Hotel in Majorca. This 4 - stars hotel is also located near numerous great restaurants.

Restaurant Parlament:
The probably most well-known and most elegant restaurant in Palma is situated in an over 100 years old building, in which the parliament of the Balearic Islands is also situated. The kitchen has a Mediterranean character and the dishes are prepared from the two 2 - stars cooks Javier Villero and Martin Vera. Numerous politicians and Majorcan personalities eat in this city palace with its parquet floors, its stucco ceilings and its beautiful crystal luster. The kitchen of the restaurant opened from Monday to Saturday from 13 pm - 16 pm and from 20 pm - 23 pm.

Address:
Restaurant Parlament
Conquistador, 11
07001 Palma, Spain
Phone: 0034 971726026
Fax: 0034 971710074
Email: info@restaurantparlament.com

Restaurant Marisquería Can Jordi
The simple and cozy restaurant is in the proximity of the Majorcan airport in Palma. In this cordial restaurant you can enjoy the freshest fishes and sea fruits. The remarkable thing about the "Marisquería Can Jordi" restaurant is that there is no bill of fare, the guests can choose their food in the cabinet of the restaurant. Among the most popular courts are oysters from the coasts of Galicia, pink shrimps as well as lobsters from Majorca and calamari.

Address:
Restaurant Marisquería Can Jordi
Illa de Xipre, 12
07007 Palma, Spain
Phone: 0034 971491909
Fax: 0034 971491978

The majorcan cuisine gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy marvelous traditional recipes. The Majorcans usually use olive oil for their preparation of food. The main ingrediences are bell pepper, zucchini, tomato, aubergine, garlic and fish. The Majorcans differentiate between three terms: "caldo" (clear soup), "sopa" (soup) and "potaje" (stew). "Sopa Mallorquin" is a solid cabbage- stew with meat, "Sopa de pescado" is a fish soup. Rice dishes are also usually used in the majorcan cuisine. "Arroz a la marinera" is a rice dish with fish and sea fruits, "Arròs brut" is a rice dish with meat of a pig, chicken or rabbit and seasonal vegetables. A famous vegetable court is "Tumbet", a vegetable- casserole with potatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, aubergines and onions. The best travel season or a culinary journey is summer, when vegetables are of first-class quality. Popular meat dishes are "Costillas de cordero" (lamb chop), "Lechona" (suckling pig), "Sobrassada" (red sausage) and "Butifarron" (blood sausage). Experience the majorcan cuisine and stay in a comfortable accommodation in Mallorca. You will find further information at the Ibiza Majorca Travel Guide in web. The page has detailed information available with regard to cultur, history and sightseeing.

Everybody who is travelling to Spain wants to try typical Spanish food and drinks like Sangría. Sangría is a kind of wine punch and works well as a cheap party drink. Sangria derives from the Spanish word "sangre" which means blood. But Sangria is not always red like blood, there exists also Sangría which is made with white wine and therefore called "Sangría Blanco".
Sangría was originally created in Spain with Rioja and other Spanish red wines. Soon, however, the Cava-producing area adopted a sparkling white version. In the south of Spain Sangria is called "zurra", and is created with peach or nectarine.
Sangría usually is comprised of red wine, chopped or sliced fruit, juice, a sweetener such as sugar or honey, a small amount of added brandy, triple sec, or other spirits.
Sangría is often served in 1-litre pitchers or other containers large enough to hold a bottle of wine plus the added ingredients.

Olives have been one of the most valuable ingredients in the Mediterranean diet for thousands of years - since people discovered how to extract the valuable olive oil from the small bitter fruit of the ancient olive trees. It is unlikely that the early harvesters of the olive were privy to this much information, but the humble olive tree can certainly claim to be one of the main pillars of the renowned 'healthy Mediterranean diet'. Olive trees of all ages are abundant all over Ibiza and many are reputed to be over 1,000 years old. However, they are not a crop that offers a quick return and were traditionally planted to provide for the next generation. Their most productive years are considered to be between 25 and 100 years during which time they can produce between 30 and 50 kilos of olives each year. Traditionally the olives that had dropped during the night were collected each autumn morning when the peasants took their sheep or goats to pasture. If it was a windy day they would take a second tour of their trees expecting more fruit to have fallen. Nowadays, as the flocks of sheep have largely disappeared, you are more likely to see the farmers beating the trees with long sticks and catching the olives with nets spread on the ground beneath. Since each family would have only a few trees, they would then take their precious fruit to a neighbouring finca that possessed an olive press. There are two main components to an olive press; the first is the horse drawn millstone with its huge stone trough into which the olives are tipped and crushed into a pulp by the millstone, as it is interminably dragged around by the blinkered horse. The resultant pulp is then crammed into big wicker baskets a metre across, which are piled under the business end of the press.Come to Ibiza, not only for clubbing or dancing, but also to enjoy the Ibiza nature life. So that enjoy your stay in our selection of Ibiza hotels and Ibiza apartments.

With the origin the cuisine of Majorque was a rather country cuisine, and still today the use of pig and lard is very frequent. But we can find obviously also fish, shellfish, fruits and many vegetables.With regard to the typical dishes of the island, do not miss the asado by lechona(pig of roast milk) been useful mainly in the storerooms. Soups are also very famous (Majorque and Minorque) and generally containing bread, onion and vegetable.

Obviously, as on the peninsula the pork-butcheries and the ham serrano are in the spending patterns. Finally all the roasted or fried fish are and will remain always a treat, without forgetting famous Tapas!

Most of the hotels and accomodations will propose you this kind of traditional food, for exemple the Hotel Eurotel Golf Punta Rotja.

Namely also that Majorque produces a great number of cheese and since 1991 holds two wines origin appellation controlled! Of course the traditional ones are not avoided that are the pizza, the Chinese restaurants and always a little more popular the Mexican restaurants!

In the heart of the Majorca, taking the main road from Palma towards Inca, you will pass the charming town of Binissalem. This quiet historical town has so far been untouched by mass tourism and thus a great destination for people who just want to relax or discover another Majorca than the Island they know from the travel magazines and tour operator brochures. Besides an impressive Gothic church and many other buildings of historic interest, this town is known for the wine industry. Binissalem is located in the middle of a marvelous wine region just East of the robust mountain range Sierra de Tramuntana, which protects the region from northern winds, providing a mild microclimate.. Since more than 100 years B.C. the inhabitants of Majorca have already been cultivating wine. A thousand years ago the Balearic wines were among the best wines in Europe. The wine production of Binissalem became a ?Denomination of Origin? at the end of 1990. When visiting Binissalem as a tourist you will of course have plenty of opportunities to taste these excellent wines yourself. In Binissalem you can stay in one of the finest Majorca hotels, maybe even one of the finest small hotels in the mediterranean. The four star hotel Scott?s in Binissalem is known for its handmade king beds with soft goosedown pillows and Ralph Lauren?s best sheets. Another village in the Binissalem wine region where you can go to escape from the tourist crowds, enjoy fine wines and just relax is the more rural village of Sencelles where it is possible to stay in an original farm house. In this kind of Majorca accommodation you will really enjoy the Majorcan country side.

In the past there have been many speculations about the origins of the name of mayonnaise, one of the most important French culinary inventions ever made. But the question is where it was inveted and by whom. Many people in history have tried to claim the honor, but the mistery still remains unsolved. Some speculate that the sauce was named after Charles of Lorraine, Duc de Mayenne, an area in the Northwest of France. It sounds credible, moreover since it?s in France, but it?s not what I believe...

I?m convinced that Mayonnaise comes from the Island of Menorca. Eventhough the inhabitants of the island haven?t quite figured out themselves how it was invented or who did it, the mere number of different legends is enough evidence to me that mayonnaise was born in Maó, the capital of the second largest Balearic. The most generally accepted story is that it was the French chef of the Duc de Richelieu in 1756 who created it to celebrate the French military victory over the British port of Mao. In French this town is called ?Mahón?, so a sauce from Mahon would then be a ?sauce Mahónnaise? which was soon transformed into Mayonnaise. Others say it was a Menorcan peasant woman dressing a salad for another French genereal in Mahón or a Menorcan housekeeper disguising rancid meat from the taste buds of a French officer.

I suppose this case will always remain a secret, but if this story has awoken your interest in getting to know more about it, why don?t you come and visit Menorca, book a Menorca hotel or stay in an accommodation in Mao where you might be the one unraveling the mystery of mayonnaise.

Throughout history, the Balearic Islands have been inhabited by people with many different origins and cultural backgrounds. The location in the Mediterranean made the Balearics a perfect haven for Arabic, African, Persian and European folks that settled on or visited the islands. The influences of all these different cultures can be found in today?s Balearic kitchen. The basics come from the Catalan mainland in the Northeast of Spain and fish and seafood are of course one of the most important ingredients. Besides that there are many meat dishes and sausages and products made out of the Mallorcan lard. Mallorca is renowned for the cultivation of oranges, olives and almonds which are also widely used. The restaurants of most hotels on Mallorca offer a wide menu with both international and traditional Island dishes. The quality as well as the variety of the menus in Mallorca and Ibiza hotels are improving every year.

Cooks on Mallorca are experts in preparing soups. On the traditional way soup is being prepared in a ceramic kettle on low fire. One absolutely has to try the ?sopes mallorquines? made out of vegetables and brown bread. In the inlands of Menorca you can try ?el Oliaigo?, a refreshing soup made out of oil, water, garlic and tomato. Another typical Menorcan dish is the lobster stew, or the widelier available fish stew, which in combination with bread are an excellent apetizer. To finish of a nice diner on a typical Menorcan way one has to eat the cheese of Maó. It originally came from Italy in the 15th century and today it?s listed as among the best cheeses in Europe.

The Balearic Islands also produce some excellent wines to accompany the Island specialties. And after diner there?s nothing better than to enjoy a nice Menorca gin, the islands heritage from the time of British occupation.

Next weekend, on Sunday the 22nd there is a festival dedicated to food taking place in Sant Joan in Mallorca. The Festa de Butifarra is all about the typical Catalan sausage called Butifarra and made out of raw pork and spices. If you?re interested in joining in this culinary festivity, just book a Mallorca hotel in one of the neighboring towns and come and eat as much as you can.