MALLORCA - FOOD
The local Mallorcan dishes make full use of delicious local almonds, olives, walnuts, and the local tomato called Ramallet which is native to the island. Mallorca is rich in vegetables, so obviously vegetarians are well catered for.
Breakfast often includes an ensaimada - this is a delicious spiral yeast bun dusted with icing sugar. Attempts to make it off the island are never successful, as it is thought that the rising dough benefits from the sea air. That is what you may see many visitors carrying back in boxes from Mallorca`s Palma Airport!
For lunch try local grimalt cheeses, cocarrois - delicious pasties with various fillings, trampos - vegetable pizza slices, pa`amb oli - Mallorcan bread with garlic, tomato, olive oil and sometimes cured ham or cheese - highly recommended on our behalf - or perhaps in winter wholesome rice soups which come in a variety of flavors - seafood, vegetable, or even with chunks of the local sausages. Any real meat lovers may like to try sobrassada!
Famous main dishes include tumbet - a splendid vegetable dish, fideua - the local paella made with noodles rather than rice, sophisticated salt cod dishes, fresh fish dishes, pork loin in a Mallorcan sauce, pork wrapped in cabbage, suckling pig, numerous lamb dishes, cauliflower with raisins and pine nuts, pumpkin fritters, local mushroom dishes.
Tapas are a Spanish institution. Originally a free `lid` (tapa) of ham across a drink, nowadays they consist of small portions of everything from octopus to olives. Locals eat tapas before going out to eat, but several portions can make an unusual meal in itself. The best place to eat tapas in Mallorca is in the area around La Llonja and Santa Catalina in Palma.
It is often said that on an island with the tang of sea air, people can develop sweet tooth`s. Mallorca caters to this. Dessert could be a slice of turron, nougat handmade from the local almonds. More substantial dishes include puding - a kind of cream caramel, and greixonera de brossat - a local cheese cake. Seasonal fruit and nuts are very popular too.