Palmademallorca – A Pursuit of Life

Tunes, drinks, and epic times at Agua Bar

Live tunes, cold drinks, amazing people and an epic atmosphere. Sounds pretty darn awesome doesn’t?! That’s because those things are awesome! Agua Bar in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, is exactly where it’s at if those are things that are up your alley. Agua Bar has it all.

That’s actually a fish tank in the window, and looks really cool when you are beside it. You know, makes sense as Agua translates in English to Water.

One of my absolute favorite water holes for years now – and for good reason.

Agua has been around for about 11 beautiful years. It makes Palma a better place. Even though Palma is generally ridiculously amazing, Agua is the cherry on top.

Throughout the week they offer lots of various excitement for you to enjoy. Monday’s are flip night, where you can try your luck at a coin toss to see if you can call the throw correctly to nail yourself a beverage on the house. Thursday’s are ladies night, where the ladies can indulge in free wine & cava, from 7 – 10:30. Wine & cava not your thing? Well in that case you can instead receive 50 percent off any other drink your little heart desires. Friday and Sunday are the famous ‘Open mic nights‘, and then there is Charity Saturdays, where the generous, thoughtful and awesome guy’s who run Agua, Rich & Lee, will donate 50 cents from every drink purchased throughout the night to a charity. So you can drink with a cause and not feel guilty about being a party animal.

Care for a shot?

When in Palma, I frequent Agua bar on Friday and Sunday nights to take in their open mic nights. There is always some incredible talent to enjoy, and loads of Agua bar locals. Music feeds the soul, and makes my little world go round.

Why not have a little listen for yourself.

The famous open mic nights are exactly that, so that means they are pretty popular and the place fills up. Everyone wants to either hear or be part of the epic jam sesh’s.

You could say Agua is almost like a small community, its a place where everyone knows your name, and everyone just happens to be awesome. I am sure you agree that it’s rare and rad to find a bar that’s pretty much rammed with cool peeps. That would be Agua’s magnetism. It attracts exactly what it is. If you are good to the bar, they are just as good to you.

One of the best things ever is the ‘went for a pee card‘. If for whatever reason you have to leave your drink, all you gotta do is grab a card and pop it on your glass. It works like a freaken charm. Being such a kick ass establishment, its totally legit, and no one tampers with your drink. Not many bars you can say that about now-a-days.

Trust me when I say, no matter what day you go to Agua bar you are always guaranteed to have a damn good time. I have had many endless great times there.

It has some pretty sweet decor, show casing all the amazing classics all over the walls. The place is warm, inviting, and air conditioned in the summer. Let’s not forget Palma is hot as hell in the summer, so why not go cool down in Agua. Good ol’ Agua, just consistently checking all the boxes. It’s definitely a bar not to be missed in Palma. It will reel you right in – just like it did me. The first time I visited it, magic happened, I felt right at home, and the rest is history.

Sooo, see yah there this weekend? What are you waiting for?! Whether your there to play or just to listen, it will rock your socks off. Yup, that’s my kinda Jam.

Eating typically traditional in Palma at La Cueva

One thing to remember when embarking on a dinner mission in Spain – ‘Most restaurants don’t open before 8’. Freaken heck though, most westerner’s don’t like to eat after 8. It can be a tad bit of an adjustment. Seeing as how I am programmed to have dinner quite early in the evening, I always tend to forget this late dinner fact.

My friends and I had dinner plans, and we decided to just wing it – meet up, be spontaneous and just find a place. It just so happened to be about 6 pm, and the streets were quite and most restaurants chained up, dark and lifeless. Yes it was way to darn early. ‘Dang’ we thought, where the heck are we gonna get some chow?!’

Long behold, we came across ‘La Cueva’. With 20 people standing outside(well maybe 10, but in dead streets it looked like 20) we figured there was a good chance it was open. We took a peak inside – and damn straight, it was OPEN! Score! We were in there like flint.

Not before having a photo shoot in front of the door.

From the entrance we had to go down a few stairs(I know from the previous photo you would assume up, BUT, it was down), and enter into the restaurant which is very much like a cool ass little cave. With ‘La Cueva’ translating to ‘The Cave’ in English, it only made sense really.

I am all about fresh and local ingredients, and they definitely had the fresh part going on. I didn’t have a chance to ask about the local part though.

My eyes were already liking what they were seeing. Although, once menu was in hand, and you are presented with what appears to be loads of delicious plates, it ain’t so darn easy anymore.

Oh geez, what the heck to choose?! How about just one of everything?

OK, ok, that’s excessive, it would be far too much…… So we each just chose 2 tapas each for the table.

It was still way too much in the end, but at least we got to try a bit of everything. They have their system down pat, and are ready to rock with the plates at any given moment. It was very good service. The only thing I did notice was the microwave.

We were a bit shocked at how incredibly fast it came, and not being someone whom uses microwaves myself, it was a small bit daunting, but being as hungry as we all were – we weren’t about to complain, and in reality, its not like they were hiding the fact they use a microwave for some things. Everything was made fresh, and I suppose it was necessary to keep up with the capacity of clients they receive. So really, it is what it is. No biggy what-so-ever.

We opted to choose a different Vino then the one on the table, and instead went for the Jose. L. Ferrer. One of my favorite vineyards in Mallorca . We tested out a bit of everything food wise. From olives and aioli,

onward to, potatoes with aioli, mushrooms, pepper padrons(one of my all time Mallorcan favorites), Mallorcan bread and cheese.

Not to mention, shrimps still sizzling.

Calamari, octopus, and shaved ham.

Don’t forget to share – sharing is caring.

The food was all ridiculously good to be honest, and super traditional. If there is one thing I enjoy most in life, it’s taking in as much of the local cultures and traditions where ever in the world I may be. Even when it happens to be in my own Country of Canada.

Just when we thought we were having the time and feed of our lives – in came the live music. My little world would not turn without music, and I am ALL about live music, in any and all forms. So this rocked my darn world.

In came the cavalry.

Pucker up princess. They were freaken awesome! And such good sports. Not to mention, I do love the accordion oh so much! I am into the most random things. I also happen to play a few tunes on the harmonica. Bet you didn’t expect that.

My time was running short in Mallorca. Even though I am never gone that long, I like to end my time here with the most Mallorcan experiences as possible. Considering we thought we were outta luck unless we waited for places to open – we were pleasantly surprised. A feast for a king – a hungry king at that. This little gem of a restaurant was absolutely great, and I would go back to ‘La Cueva‘ in a heart beat.

Hungry for some traditional tapa’s before 8 pm? Well meet me at La Cueva.

Palma pallete adventures at OMBU.

Treating your taste buds to culinary seduction is always a sensory event not to be missed. It was a ladies do dinner day, and we weren’t quite sure where to go. After gallivanting all around the city,

enjoying the epic ambiance, and of course being awesome – we needed to pick a place to wine and dine ourselves. We were after someplace new, chic and darn delicious.

Palma has an endless selection of fab establishments to choose from. Mallorca in general actually. You could eat your little heart out with new places to try. So that being said, competition can be stiff -and my love story with Mallorca never ends.

We came across OMBU on our adventures, and having heard so many rave reviews about it, it obviously was a must try.

OMBU is part of 2 other restaurants, Forn & Koa. Each offering different menu’s, and different ambiance’s. I have eaten at both of the other establishments in the past, and had great experiences. Soooo, how could we really go wrong with this choice?!

As any foodie knows, gastronomy is the in culinary craze. Gastronomy is the concept behind OMBU, and their menu specializes in Tapa’s & Cocktails. The décor is modern chic and inviting.

‘Come on in’, it says.

Well, I don’t mind if I do.

Always do;)

We began our OMBU experience sipping on some vino outside, indulging in some people watching.

I do so enjoy a good people watching sesh. Just about as much as I enjoy a good vino sesh. They do go really well together. Like two peas in a pod.

Wouldn’t you agree that it’s just darn fantastic how most restaurants in Palma have little fires by the tables to keep you all toasty warm in the winter. My Northern Canadian blood likes a little chill, but a warm chill. I also love the fact I still get to sit outside. Later on though, as the sun had gone down it did get a bit too chilly to dine outside, so we moved on to get the feel for the inside, and grab a cocktail.

We both went for the Psycotonic.

It was so delish too! Made with ginger and grapefruit juice. Those just so happen to be a couple of my favorite things.

The menu had a nice little selection of Tapa’s to choose from, and in true tapas fashion, you order a few different things for the table to share.

We ended up having Spanish bread, cheeses, lamb and a couple other meat dishes.

The lamb in the martini glass was one of my faves! But seriously, everything was so good. Very well flavored and prepared. We were both very impressed with the food and service.

Our awesome server made sure to bring us an aperitif. Most places in Spain do always offer you a shot after your meal. It’s too good to pass up. So down the hatch it went.

We also were graced with the presence of our friend Paola for a quick catch up.

I would definetly say that if you wake up and find yourself in Palma, do give OMBU a try. It’s super good, and checked all my boxes.

Cheers to another successful dining experience.

C’an Joan de S’Aigo, Palma’s historical ice cream parlor.

History, Coffee, Ice Cream, and your typical Spanish pastries. Sounds pretty darn delightful doesn’t it? Well, it was – and you probably should have been there.

Being Saturday afternoon after a busy week of being awesome. My energy was lagging a tad(even though it comes naturally, it still can take it out of a person) and it was time for an awesome caffeine fix and a historical Palma experience. Combining a new experience with a coffee, which just so happens to be two of my absolute favorite things – was sure to be a winner.

Ca’n Joan de S’Aigo, the oldest Ice Cream parlor/cafe in Palma. Founded in 1700, located in the old town(obviously, where else would it be – clearly not the new town), and it has managed to maintain its charm, flavor, and clientele ever since.

The popularity of this fine establishment is not to be under rated.

There was a continual line up at the door, and the turn over is so fast that we had to grab the only dirty table that was open. The gentleman serving us was quick to clean it up though. The place is buzzing, very local, and full of energy.

I must say, they really have maintained the place over the last 3000 years. That is lineage and dedication if you ask me.

The menu is small, and contains very typical Spanish delights. Really, its not big at all, very easy to hold, maneuver, and has 4 sections, covering 4 different languages. I am pretty sure they even had Gibberish in there.

Ta-daa, behold: the menu.

Being known for their home made ice cream, you have a nice array of flavors in which to treat your palette and your waistline. From almond, chocolate, strawberry, coffee, down to cava, and onward. Served in little glasses, its sure to please you. They also offer take out containers of the creamy cold stuff too, for nothing less then your take away pleasure.

Yup, she was loving it. Ice creamy happy place written all over her.

Besides the ice cream, they have a wonderful selection of Spanish pastry’s. Not a place to visit if your on a diet. Cakes, pastry’s, croissant’s, freshly made carb heaven. They also offer full cakes for take away. Perhaps you want to be the most popular guest at a party?? Well here’s your chance. Go on then! Get in there.

Top that off with a coffee, and your loving life. Are you drooling yet?

Not to mention the prices are ridiculous. Absolutely. Ridiculously good! Seriously, there is not much on the menu that goes over 2 euros. So I would say, you get a real historical bargain.

Would you look at that empty little cake plate. I would take that as a clear indication that it was so darn delish – it got gobbled right up.

Throw some fabulous company into the mix…….

Meaning mine of course.

Kidding! I was actually the lucky one to be in the presence of these fine ladies. Although as you can see behind us, they also had some very exquisite nude art on display. Nothing like appreciating a good nude art piece over coffee and cake. Not sure when it dates back to though.

With all of the above, its safe to say, you got yourself just another pretty exceptional must try Palma experience.

The magic just never ends in Mallorca.

Palma Indulginces at the San Juan Gastromarket

Gastromarkets. These concepts are a rave around the globe at the moment, popping up all over the show. For darn good reason too. Here in Palma de Mallorca, it is just the same. The art of food is a massive focal point for foodies – gastronomy is the craze. Enjoying a meal however, does always begin with your eyes. Although if it’s to be an incredible culinary art, as in a cut above the rest, something to write home about – it will bring something to the table that heighten’s almost all of your senses. That is a much more difficult feat. Yet is an astounding experience. I do very much appreciate gastronomy culinary art.

S’Escorxador is where San Juan, the newest and hottest gastromarket is located in Palma. Having opened in June, it has taken off very well. Since I returned to Palma, I had so many people telling me it is a must try; So I did just that. I went and tried it.

Considering it was raining, what better a day to choose to engage in an affair such as this. Sitting inside an exquisite establishment, sipping on fine wine, and indulging in an exceptional culinary experience. Yup pretty perfect if you ask me.

Okay, well actually, on that note – as a child when it would rain(or even hail) outside, I took it as the perfect opportunity to slap on the ol’ swimsuit, and head outside to have the time of my life in mother nature’s glorious shower. For hours my little heart would be content in it. Not gonna lie, even as an adult, I still like to play in the rain. Although I haven’t donned my swim apparel in quite some time for the occasion. Although the thought has crossed my mind. I mean, ‘why the heck not?!’ It’s refreshing, natural and fun. For a trip down memory lane, so little Petrena can live on inside of me. You catch my drift.

Second to that though, sipping on fine wine, and tantalizing my taste buds in a gastromarket – would be the next most ideal choice. One in which my sophisticated classy lady side happens to love.

S’Escorxador itself dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, and was the cities original central slaughterhouse. The re-vamp of the building has completely modernized it. I have a massive appreciation for history being restored and turned into something exceptional. Urbanization at it’s finest.

Upon arriving to S’Escorxador I immediately was drawn straight to the cinema posters. Dang, I love going to movies. They even played movies in English at this theater. Not that I mind watching Spanish movies, but to see a movie in my own language, is always enjoyable. Sooooo yah, 6pm movie after an afternoon gastromarket session, was exactly what my list of things to do entailed on this particular rainy day.

When I walked into San Juan I was instantly impressed.

I was digging the decor. Bright, crisp, clean, airy, and inviting. The lighting fixtures are very eye catching as well. It was undeniable, I was in for a fabulous experience. Seeing as how it is a gastromarket, and they have 17 gourmet food stalls there – you best be prepared to sample a few of the various delectable’s that are on offer.

First thing is first though. Get the vino flowin! Very important. Step freaken 1.

We grabbed a bottle of red called Damana 5 to get us going. Why on earth did we start with red?! Beats the heck out of me. Alright, alright, it was me who ordered it… I was eager to get the party started. So we did things backwards. First red, then rose, and onward. We were enjoying ourselves regardless of the wine sequence, and that is all that matters.

With Vino in hand, you can see Belle was ready to check out the various stalls. Let’s do this!

In accompaniment to the vino, we did do our utmost to sample various dishes. I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed how social it was sitting there. Different locals would come and sit beside us and would end up having a little chat. Socializing with different people absolutely adds to the experience. Bringing people together, one gastro experience at a time. Hmmm, new slogan perhaps?

Wendy was right in there being a gem and starting us off with some ceviche.

After which we had, Pad Thai, and some Mallorquin Ham and Cheese platters.

Onward and upward to some of my favorite things, Aperol Spritz’s and Oysters.

Oh heck yes. Now we were talking. Nothing like slurping an Oyster down the hatch, and then cleansing the palette with an Aperol Spritz(made with Cava of course). Oysters and bubbly just go hand in hand. Well in my case, hand to my mouth.

Wait she looks a bit unsure.

We even had a suck at some Percebe(otherwise known as goose barnicle).

As you can see the girls were absolutely loving them!

Wendy actually does love them though, I think she just got squirted in the eye.

Not my fave if you ask me, tastes a bit too much like a combination of rock and strong fishy sea water. Oh well, tis the way sometimes, I will always give things a try at least once though.

Space had become quite limited in our stomachs at this point. It was a must to go out with a bang though. Rarely do I eat red meat, but when its local, and a fine cut, not to mention, so tender it melts in your mouth like butter. Well, then its a different story.

It was ridiculously good. Save the best for freaken last – as they say.

After it was all said and done, we did still in fact take in our movie. The flic of choice was Desert Dancer – and it was nothing less then amazing. For myself it was one of the most emotionally moving movies I have ever seen. I loved it. Giver a go if your into an emotionally touching film. Its a fantastic little theater as well, with very friendly and happy attendants waiting to welcome you.

Well what can I say, San Juan did not disappoint.

We went, we indulged, we laughed, we socialized, and thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. A gastronomic experience not to be missed.

Spontaneously, I woke up back in Spain.

As per usual Petrena style, I made the spontaneous decision to return to Spain for a bit. My other home. Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It seems I just can’t stay away for that long, it drags me back. Well, in all honesty it doesn’t take much dragging. Hello Palma!!

Holy man, first of all, the mid summer heat nearly did me in. My Arctic blood always has an interesting go at acclimatizing to the heat. Trust me, I am not in my most attractive state when I am sweating my ass off…. It’s a great way to detox your body. At least that is what I keep telling myself in order to power through. It’s a small price to pay though to be back in the one of the most epic places on this planet. Although summer is ridiculously busy on the island, and there are loads and loads of tourists – so I still prefer the winter here, however, I love it any and all times of year. It’s just undeniably amazing.

I also decided to bring my sweet ass Canadian made Lochside bicycle on the journey with me. I have traveled with quite an array of interesting things, from a massage table, to hoola hoops, and onward. This was my first time with a bicycle though. So packing it was also an interesting little feat.

Yet with some bubble wrap, tape, and some help from my awesome friends after a few glasses of vino, she was pulled together quite well. I even used a piece of rope to make a handle(which ironically was very handy). She made it though! Intact(well just a couple bumps and scrapes) and equally as excited for the Mallorca experience.

We were greeted by one of my best friends, and a fab wine and cheese spread. Let me just say, I am beyond happy I brought my bike, we just rock these bike paths together. She really is just such a smooth ride. It helps that the island is built for cycling, and there are loads of bike paths all over the place. I knew I wouldn’t regret bringing her along. My piece of home that I get to share with my other home.

Coming home Palma always also means one thing(among many). Catching up with my awesome friends. With time away, the excitement to catch up is always building.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Absence also creates in-between adventures, which in turn creates loads to talk about. Never a dull freaken moment. Between catch ups, cycling, and visiting my favorite restaurants, with Vintage(pictured below) in the trendy area of Santa Catalina being one of my all time favorites, I have been kept very busy.

I even had a quick trip up to Northern Spain, where I was able to have another reunion.

And while I was there, a visit Santiago De Compostela.

A place full of mucho history, it’s a beautiful area.

There is a well known pilgrimage called the Comino de Santiago, which takes about a month to complete. I have wanted to do it for years, more so for the fact that I want to say I have completed a month tour by foot. Santiago De Compostela is where the pilgrimage ends. So you see loads of happy people with their backpacks, exuding satisfaction at what they have just completed. Being there and seeing that reinforced inside me that I want to do the walk. And I will indeed.

I also checked out the little town of Poio. It is a small place with nothing too major to see. However it is still rich in history, and I fell in love with it’s little old town. It came out of nowhere. We went from a quiet lunch and streets of not much.

To jam packed little old town streets. In the matter of a turn of a corner.

I loved the atmosphere it had. Until it started raining. And then I was soaked. I love playing in the rain, I will dance in it, put on my swimsuit and love life in it. I just wasn’t equipped with the proper footing for it at that moment. However it was a memorable area.

Oh Spain. I absolutely adore you. Your just so darn fantastic. Not a bad place to wake up to – if I do say so myself.

Tantalizing my taste buds with market perfection;)

It was one of those days where I had a craving for some fresh food and Spanish market ambiance. After gathering the troops and getting a meeting point sorted, I was off to Mercat de l’Olivar, to indulge in some fresh seafood, and in addition to that of course, some very tasty Vino.

I love the fact that it is winter and the market is remarkably empty, in such a way that you can actually walk around it and even better than that, ‘find seats’!!
In the summer it just gets chaotic, and because of that, it can kind of lose the charm it has in the quieter winter months, where you can actually move and not get claustrophobic;)

We ended up at a little place called, Bar del Peix, well I didn’t actually pick it, it was my friends choice, yet cu-do’s to her, as it was a fabulous choice. Funny enough I made a pit stop to the ladies room, and upon my arrival there was a weigh scale welcoming my entrance. I suppose that is one way to make sure you keep your portions in control, as the food is pretty ridiculously awesome;) Only in Spain….. I love Spain, and its randomness. Well hello there Mr. Weight scale, it’s not everyday a public bathroom comes equipped with one of those bad boys.

After jumping on the scale(isn’t that what it’s there for?!) to make sure I had some room to spare for some tasty splurges, I set route back to the market stall we chose to dine at. At which point we ordered up, and preceded to feast on mussels, calamari, a little seafood mixture in a tomato based sauce, sardines(one of my personal favorite’s of all time at any Spanish market ), and last but not least fresh bread with olives. Mmmmmm, did I happen to mention how much I love a good ol’ mussel?! not just on my men, but also on my plate;)

Everything was spot on. You could taste the freshness of it, nothing was chewy or stringy, just tender and melt in your mouth delicious. They offer 1/2 orders or full orders of most dishes, but most things are so good that you start with a 1/2 order just to be classy and then end up ordering another half anyway. Oops!!! – Yes, and maybe I am referring to the mussels…..

I have to say the service we received was also fantastic and friendly, and at this establishment they leave the bottles of wine right in front of you for you to help yourself, no need to order a whole bottle, just order a glass and get in there! And that we did. Yes Sir, that is exactly what I was after to wash my tasty cuisine down with. Thank you very much. My kind of establishment!

I would say if you wake up and find yourself in Mallorca, then take yourself on a date or amuse a group of friends – head to the Mercat de l’Olivar, and treat yourself to a culinary and cultural experience. Happiness is guaranteed to ensue. That just so happens to be an above average day if you ask me!

Did I mention I love green juice?

Yes, there is nothing quite like a good ol’ green juice! For me the greener the better, but that’s from growing up in the Canadian wilderness and having my grandma feeding me all sorts of plants and things as a young girl when we were in the bush for their different nutritional value’s:) My palette is accustomed to it and my body loves it.

That being said, Camille and myself decided to head to one of our fave spots for some healthy treats and a good catch up sesh.

Located in the trendy little Santa Catalina area of Palma, there is this chic little Raw Vegan eatery. After a month of detoxing and no Vino, this is what I look forward too! It’s safe to say, I love green juice just as much as I love Vino. They both make me equally as happy. Oh and I do love raw food too! Although not as a 100% diet as I just so happen to prefer some things cooked. But love it none the less.

This little indulgence had Celery, cumber, parsley and greens. Heck yes, just like a party in my mouth. I have to admit, I really do like everything at Ziva. They have a fairly wide selection of things and offer everything from Green Smoothies and juices, various tea’s and organic coffee, delicious raw food, and a good selection of super foods. It is a bit pricey, but the quality of food is totally worth it. There is juicing magic happening right there.

I just so happen to be a huge fan of the Almond Cheese! Its ridiculously good.

I know it’s easy to make, but I don’t always have that kind of time! So this is always my go to option.

As with culture here in Spain, most restaurants have a Menu del dia(Menu of the day). It is always fresh, you get a few courses, and the cheapest way to go when you eat out for lunch.

Camille got the salad of the day, which was spiraled cucumber with red pepper, purple cabbage, and a miso-tamari-ginger sauce. Yes I tried a bit; And yes it was awesome. She loved every morsel too. You can see how focused she was,the anticipation of getting that fork full in her mouth was almost too much. It is a quaint little place, with a nice little atmosphere, friendly service, and people in deep converstation;)

Definitely not a bad place to spend a bit of your day. Especially when you are in fab company to boot. Bottoms up!

The summer season is amongst us!! And so is the Sunshine

Well summer is well on its way here in Mallorca! and you can absolutely feel it! All around the island, the streets are getting full of people, and all the shops that closed for the winter are once again opening up their doors:) Too be honest it is pretty exciting, I thought I would miss winter, as I had such an amazing winter here, and I do love being places in the low season. However, the energy changes in the summer, and of course, so does the weather, everything just heats right up! I can’t really help but be excited to embrace it all.

What better way to do it then to hit the cycle path, and cycle your little heart out. The Gals and I decided to do the usual cycle to Arenal, a nice little round trip that tally’s up 30km, which is always beautiful and never gets old. You just bask in the beauty of the coastline, soak up the sun, and of course do some people watching. It starts to get a bit hectic on the bike paths in the summer, lots of traffic! That’s where your trusty little bell comes in handy.. Ok, so I do try to refrain from being too eager to ring my little bell.. But sometimes, it’s just so darn fun!! not to mention necessary at times. I can’t imagine my bike without my bell. It’s those cheap thrills that can be the most enjoyable. It is so fun to do this cycle with friends. I am terrible though, because I am an avid cycler, I always accidently leave everyone behind, and then have to pull over and wait for them.. Haha.. I tend to think I am going slow.. but obviously not.

Since the establishments that were closed for the winter are unveiling themselves once again, we had no choice but to stop at one of my absolute favorite restaurants called El Penon, YAY!! We all worked up a good appetite after our cycle, so it was time to get some grub! I love this place, because first of all the location, its right on the water basically on a rock(hence the name in English meaning ‘The Rock’), and there is a small beach right beside it, so if you fancy swim after getting all sweaty riding your bike, you can hop right in and refresh yourself:) Oh why not, chill for a bit and get your tan on while you’re at it too. Nothing like getting your Ol’ bronze goddess sun kissed look on. Ok, back to El Penon… Its super local, typical Spanish food, and nicely priced, not expensive at all. They have this awesome little roof top terrace, and in the summer, it’s great to sit up there for sun downers, and they have DJ’s there at times too, it Rocks! But in the summer you must reserve a table, cause it is popular, and hard to get a table on the terrace.

Well as there was only one next step to take, we locked up our bikes, and we were ready to get this show on the road!

Look at that spectacular view! You just need to stop in those moments, and let your eyes absorb it all.

This particular day though it was windy, so the terrace was not a good option.. but the outside Patio was a fantastic option! Not a bad view, if I do say so myself. So we grabbed ourselves a round table, and got right into it. When you are with a group of people, it’s always so much nicer to be at a round table where you can see everyone, rather than a long one where you are looking around each other. See, look how easy it is for everyone to visit;)

We started off with some Bread, Aoili and Olives, your typical Spanish snack, which didn’t last long at all, but that was all good! As we had our appetizers on the way. We ordered a nice spread of Fried Sardines, Mussels, and some sort of little Fried Chicken pieces… I love the Sardines and Mussels there, they are always a winner!

For our Mains, I had Cod, two of the girls shared a very typical dish, a Paella with seafood, and there was a Salmon dish. The Spanish take great pride in their Paella’s, and great care when then are dishing it up. Literally placing piece by piece on the plate, so it is presented just right. It’s actually fun too watch, I appreciate, watching people take pride in their traditions. The servers were really friendly here in general, not withholding any smiles;) Not one of us was dissatisfied, and we all totally enjoyed the ambiance of the place! I can’t wait for that roof top terrace to get going so I can enjoy some sun downers after a kick ass cycle. One of my favorite Mallorca pastimes:)

Bye guys!! Don’t forget to take the garbage out;) Here is too just another Epic day, and equally as fantastic company!!

An Unforgettable Dining Experience at Bens d’Avail

So here we were on a beautiful summeresque Saturday, thinking it would be a brilliant idea to take a little road trip and go for a lunch excursion. And what an excursion it turned out to be!! Off we cruised to that beautiful little town of Deia, well we were actually just outside town, on a Mountain, where there was the place of all places, Béns d´Avall. I Almost couldn’t believe my eyes when we arrived. First of all, the view, was just hanging there like a priceless painting, it was unbelievable. The most spectacular view I have got to enjoy while having an equally as spectacular meal. This was the topper of all the places that I have had the pleasure of visiting while in Mallorca, not to mention one of the best restaurants in my 9 years of travelling the world. We got there before it opened, to my dismay… As after the little road trip, I really had to Pee!!! Darn it… and we had like 45 minutes till it opened.. It’s amazing how long 45 minutes can feel, when you have a bursting bladder! But none the less, we took a little walk to check out the beautiful scenery. I already knew I was going to absolutely love this establishment. It had the perfect energy and ambiance to it all. The minute I heard the gate open though, it was like heavens gates opening! And I ran straight for the relief of the ladies room;) Happy days! And then when I walked out onto the terrace I was welcomed with this stunning vision, literally, stop in your tracks kinda stunning, the view and the table. Wow. This alone was enough reason to come. Béns d´Avall has been here since 1971, it is owned by Benet Vicens(whom is also the chef), and his wife, Catalina Encrypt, together with their son James, whom is the second Chef to his father, and they are all absolutely LOVELY, might I add. So friendly, and inviting, and you can see they are there because they are doing what they love, and they want nothing more than to create a memorable experience for all of their guests. It is located in the most pristine location, right with mother nature, and all she has to offer. They have a set menu every day, that changes monthly, and offers only the finest cuisine, with local products from Mallorca. You have the option of the Express Menu for 50 Euros, the Short Tasting Menu for 65 Euros, or the Full Tasting Menu for 75 Euros! Well if you are going to come this far, you mine as well go for the full one:) I decided it was only fitting to start off with a glass of Cava(Similar to Champagne), I mean being in that place at that moment, was something to be celebrated, and bubbly always makes things seem like that much more of a celebration. Once we had put in our order for the full menu, it wasn’t long before the incredible culinary delights began to arrive. I think ‘Delight’ may even be an understatement. Mr. Vicens, knows exactly what he is doing in the kitchen. It’s Amazing. Of course, we were offered fresh bread to start, with olive oil for dipping, along with some little finger snacks, to get the palette ready. I had no idea, that the full menu, is basically endless, and you best come prepared with your biggest appetite…. BUT, when the food is that salivating, you can make sure to keep eating whatever pleasure they put in front of you. Once we started our magical taste bud journey, I knew I had to combine it with a fine Mallorcan wine(I wanted to keep the experience as local as possible), I had the beautiful Catalina assist me in my choice, and it was a fantastic choice indeed! I ended up taking a red wine that goes by the name of ’12 Volts’, which is a Crianza make. Delicious! It paired very well with all the courses. I will be buying more from the shop for sure!

We started with a Mallorcan pizza Next up was a Free range chicken Crepe Souffle with artichokes and black truffle.Then we were onto Foie Gras 2014. To be followed by the fish, which was Ray Pave with Black butter, wild green asparagus and capers. What follows fish but the meat dish! Candied and spiced Sierra de Tramontana lamb with legumes and winter vegetables. After all those courses, you have 2 desserts!! What the?! it just keeps on coming. You definitely get your moneys worth. And one more thing to boot!!

Well 7 courses and 3 hours later, and we were beyond stuffed, with absolute lusciousness. It was very nice that it is spread out over such a long period of time, you really get the opportunity to savour every morsel, and not rush through it, not to mention there is no one pushing you rush either. After it all, we still managed to have a coffee, it was kinda necessary or we would have succumbed to food coma, and never made the drive home;) They were so sweet, to even bring the whole crew out and take a photo with us. All the people that play their part in creating an astonishing experience. What can I say. Amazing Venue, Amazing People, Amazing Food and Wine. I will be back there, FOR SURE! The end. Or maybe I should say, to be continued… This could be a monthly stop, since the menu is always changing;) Thank you Béns d´Avall!!

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