Villa D'este, find your perfect place.
European Region of Gastronomy Menorca 2022
The European Region of Gastronomy Award aims to contribute to a better quality of life by raising awareness of the importance of cultural and food uniqueness; stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; educating for better nutrition; improving sustainable tourism standards; highlighting distinctive food cultures; strengthening the well-being of communities.
https://menorcaregiongastronomica.com/en/
The most valuable spice in the world
Saffron, one of the most expensive spices in the world, has become the latest success story of the island’s 0 km foods. Farmed using artisanal methods in the clay soils in the heart of the island, local saffron is deep red in colour and is renowned for its quality.
In contrast to the customary shades of green, ochre or brown of the Menorcan countryside, the crocus tancas (fields) turn deep lavender when they are in bloom. After 25 days, the saffron strands are ready to be harvested, one by one, with great care, before being dried and packaged. A price of around 15 euros per gram is the reward for such a painstaking enterprise.
Saffron is well known for possessing many properties, another reason for its high price. It is known to be antioxidant, antidepressant, anti-carcinogen and aids digestion: quite the culinary treasure for which 150,000 flowers need to be harvested to produce one single kilo.
pigs (porquejades), when the pig is slaughtered and it’s meat is processed into different types of charcuterie. The best known are sobrassada, botifarró blanc, carn-i-xulla and camallot or cuixot. Carn-i-xulla is only produced in Menorca and may be considered the oldest form of sausage on the island. It is made from lean pork meat that is minced and then mixed with diced pig fat or bacon, dressed with salt, white pepper and black pepper. Sobrassada is also made from lean pork meat and bacon, all of which is minced and dressed with paprika (sweet and spicy) and salt. It can be found in two versions, tender or cured. Camallot or cuixot is a black sausage that is very distinctive and is made from lean pork and bloody flesh that is minced and mixed with spices and salt. This mixture is then stuffed into the skin of a pig’s leg or thigh, the edges of which are then sewn-up by hand before cooking it in a cauldron.
Hort Sant Patrici: In addition to their cheese production, Hort Sant Patrici also has a farm shop where you can find a variety of organic products. They offer a wide range of fruits, vegetables, olive oil, honey, and other locally sourced items.
Sometimes the best things about Menorca are hard to find, so going off the beaten track for a wine and cheese picnic lunch is just the thing to do.
By travelling to these places also gives you a feel for the island, they are all a short distance from the villa. Try using the old rd to https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qf3BBjpjWGyPoLkz9?g_st=ic
Our favourite wine place-
Bodegues Menorquines
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t2fRhJLMiffgvAvm9?g_st=ic
Ask for the 2016 red or their white- highly recommended.
Menorca has a number of super farms providing the best of the Menorca cheese.
Here is one of our favourite places.
Lluriach Maó-Menorca cheese
+34 971 37 53 76
https://maps.app.goo.gl/urAc8TmQvprF6fQ96?g_st=ic
Try the goats cheese – wonderful and then the home made Sausages. Truly wonderful.