…greetings from the island of Mallorca… my family have been coming to the island of Mallorca since the late ’70’s before it was ‘Majorca’ and was going through its naff phase… it was always a cheap, sunny destination for many Europeans and spent a couple of decades building some pretty dreadful hotels on some stunning, unspoilt beaches whilst ruining its own reputation… fortunately it is now going through something of a renaissance as the locals and government realise quite what an incredibly beautiful place it is and what wonderful produce the land harvests…
… for those who are perhaps unaware of Mallorca it is the largest of the Ballaeric Islands of which the infamous party island Ibiza also claims residency and is situated in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Spain… The island has 5 good hot summer months and 7 cooler winter months. It has been known to snow and being an island the rain can be rather dramatic on occasion… last night we had the most incredible thunder and lightning but today the sun is glorious… The land is mountainous in areas and flat and arable in others…The King of Spain has his holiday home here and clearly my family thought that if it was good enough for him it was good enough for us…
… my mums sister has an apartment in a coastal town in the North of the island called Puerto Pollensa… it used to be a sleepy fishing village and during the 1980’s was the height of chic for the euro-rich and their yachts.. it’s now sadly all a little cheesy and not yet taking advantage of the cooler, edgier parts of the island life… however I adore my aunts apartment and feel very privileged to be able to use it at the drop of a hat… Puerto Pollensa still has its charms however, such as the shady Pine Walk which runs from the delightful 1930’s Illa D’Or Hotel into town along the beach past some stunningly covetable houses…
…Sunday is market day in Pollensa Old Town and it is the most wonderful traditional market selling not only incredible fresh fruits and vegetables but delightful local foods such as roasted almonds, stuffed olives, local cheeses and cured meats… I could spend hours wondering around and it’s only the weight of my shopping bag that stops me!
… I picked up some local asparagus which is in season and delightfully thin and therefore needs very little cooking time… perfect with some incredibly juicy oranges for use in my random recipes challenge which is to pick the first or last recipe from a randomly selected cookbook… mine was asparagus in orange butter from Porters English Cookery Bible…no recipe because it really is quite as easy as steaming the asparagus and squeezing orange into the melting butter!
I haven't been to Spain and its islands much but I love the markets in France, I never understand why we can't do markets as well as they do in Europe.
Not seen asparagus with orange before but it sounds very summery!
I've been in Mallorca several times, it's so beautiful!
I love the idea of orange butter!
xox
Greetings Dom! I haven't been to Mallorca but I am looking forward to visit someday. I love visiting markets… I have been visiting some here in Indonesia too.
Lovely asparagus… Sounds rather nice with orange actually. Enjoy your holiday!
Clicking on the asparagus listing at the top of the page doesn't bring anything up. Any reason that you know of? I don't have the problem with any other stuff ths morning. Oh, I may not see a reply unless you can be troubled to write here: scrout1944@msn.com
I love Mallorca, it's so beautiful – the azure waters, the pine forests, and of course all the orange groves. Went in November last year and it was 21 degrees and sunny all week (it'd chucked it down the week before hand though apparently). Hope you're having a lovely break.
Oooo how nice…I wish I was in Mallorca, it looks gorgeous and the asparagus looks great too! 🙂
Great place and love the look of those tempting asparagus!
Asparagus is one of my favourite vegetables, always looking at lovely ways to serve it – this sounds lovely and summery. Like the look of that jaffa cake icecream too!
Wow I want to go on holiday too!! I've never been to Mallorca. The asparagus looks good too – very seasonal 🙂
I have so always wanted to go there! Jealous you have a place there! Looks so beautiful!
Oh my goodness, jaffa cake ice cream? Woooooooooo and thanks for posting it just for me. Cutie. x x x
The local produce market would be the star attraction for me. I love seeing what “real” people (as opposed to tourists) eat, when I visit another country.
Have lovely memories of Mallorca and really want to go back again. And asparagus with orange I have not come across before but yours look superb!
Spain is wonderful country, Mallorca is place for rest, Ibiza is place to party. Food is great also, i was enjoin' in some Asian specialty of the house. Good review!
Have a GREAT time Dom, LOVE all the photos and I ADORE asparagus!
JEALOUS.
I haven't heard of Mallorca before, so it's a great new discovery for me. Many times people (me included) naturally think of Barcelona or Madrid, the larger cities, when they think SPain, and it's nice to know of a little getaway island where even the King escapes to.
Oh, and the markets are always the best part of a trip for me. I like wandering about the stalls, seeing fresh produce or local goodies, and just soaking up that atmosphere and the buzz.
Oh, my dear! What a perfect time to go for a bit of summertime! Your photos of the harbor, the pine walk, and the markets are wonderful snippets of the area … and that sunset is just so romantic. Bet you're having such a nice time relaxing so an easy veg dish is just the ticket!
Ohh, have the most lovely lovely time Dom! Haven't been for many years but I remember going one Easter and the delicious scent of all the orange trees… PS: Please bring the sunshine back with you. Thank you.
Sounds like you are having a splendid time Dom. I think I could put up with a bit of cheese to be somewhere that sounds so glorious. I haven't had any asparagus yet, but will now be having it with orange butter when I do!
Hello Lovely! K & I are in southern Spain where the local asparagus is also fantastic, especially the wild, mountain variety which grows suddenly after rain from under really prickly, tough bushes. I have learned from the locals how to seek out & retrieve the tender young stalks without cutting my hands to shreds, and am always amazed by the speed that a shoot can come up. Here they make them into tortillas, both with and without potato, but my fave is with, so like a spanish omelette but thinner as the asparagus cooks so quick. I will endeavour to get you a recipe, enjoy your break, it looks very beautiful.
Simple but delicious – hope your holiday was fantastic – although as is always the way I'm sure it already seems like a long time ago