Gastronomy
 One
of the most widely found specialties, served as a first course, are
the typical Mallorcan soups, which, far
from being of the consummate type, are a nourishing blend of vegetables,
thinly cut slices of (brown) bread, onion and tomato. There is never
a shortage of greens in the local dishes. Apart from the Mallorcan
soups, another very typical dish is the tumbet, a ratatouille-like
baked vegetable dish, usually cooked in a greixera (casserole) and
containing aubergines (eggplant), potatoes, peppers and tomato. There
is also the frito mallorquin, with vegetables
and giblets.
Buying vegetables and fresh fruit at Palma's Olivar
Market, or at any of the town markets on the island, is always
a fascinating gourmet excursion. Choosing the ingredients for a vegetarian
meal from among the mountains of artichokes, aubergines, peppers,
tomatoes, cabbages and other locally grown greens is a simple task.
The eggs are newly laid and the fruit has that special flavour that
only comes when it ripens on the tree.
With regard to meat, mention should be made of the popular local roast
sucking pig, and the so-called escaldums,
duck or turkey stews with potatoes and almonds. Loin of pork with
cabbage is another specialty. Then there is also the famed Mallorcan
spicy red sausage spread, sobrasada, made
of finely diced pork, seasoning, paprika and cayenne pepper.
However, the really exquisite side of island cooking, is to be found
in the local fish and seafood dishes. The caldereta
de langosta
(caldereta de llagosta - lobster stew) is excellent, owing to the
fact that it is precisely in these parts, in the waters between Mallorca
and Menorca, where the most delicious lobsters are caught. The cap
roig (cabracho - sea scorpion), served freshly caught and grilled,
is simply superb. Something altogether singular is the fish
croquettes made with jonquillo,
very difficult to come by outside the islands. The jonquillo is a
kind of goby, with very exquisite white meat...what might be called
the aristocratic of all gobies, well worth a try.
In Mallorca, the solution to just about any problem can be found over
a good meal, and eating out is a marvelous way to relax and enjoy
the unique sunny beauty of the island's Mediterranean scenery. |
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