by Kim Koeller and Robert La
France
Whether you spell it Majorca
as the Spanish
do, or Mallorca as they do in Catalan,
Spain's largest island is located in the Mediterranean
Sea. Part of the Balearic
Island archipelago,
along with Ibiza,
Formentera,
and Minorca;
Majorca is a popular tourist destination for many Europeans,
and especially the British. The capital of the island, Palma,
is also the capital of the autonomous
community of the Balearic Islands.
Since the 1950s, Majorca
has been a center of attraction for foreign visitors. Because
of the influence of British vacationers, it is also an excellent
destination for gluten intolerant travelers. There are a great
many options for hotels and restaurants catering to gluten-free
customers on this beautiful island!
 Majorca
has two mountainous regions, both about 70 kilometers in length,
that occupy the northwestern and eastern thirds of the island.
The tallest peak on Majorca is Puig Major (1,445 meters)
in the Serra de Tramuntana, with a neighboring peak
called Puig Massanella that is over 1,300 meters high.
The northeast coast is generally rugged and features two sweeping
bays, the Badia de Pollença and the larger Badia
d'Alcúdia. The central zone, where the capitol
Palma is situated, is a flat fertile plain known as Es
Pla.
Majorca’s Mediterranean
climate is typically sunny, with a greater amount of rain
falling in the mountain regions. Summers are hot in the plains
and winters mild to cool, except in the Serra de Tramuntana,
where brief episodes of snowfall are not uncommon. The
island is flanked by two uninhabited smaller islands: Cabrera,
which is southeast of Palma, and Dragonera
located directly west.
Palma is a tourist
resort area with hotels, nightly entertainment and two large
beaches. It is considered to be a quiet alternative to the
party atmosphere found in the neighboring town of Magaluf.
During the summer months, the distinction between the two
towns is blurred, as tourists and locals alike enjoy the infectiously
energizing nightlife.
While English is widely
spoken around the island, both Spanish and Catalan,
the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language
in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands,
Catalonia and Valencia, are typically used. Both languages
sound similar to the unaccustomed ear; however, they are really
two different languages. Luckily, most of 7.6 million people
who speak Catalan also understand Spanish. It’s
always a good idea to have a Spanish translation card, which
you can download for free from GlutenFree Passport®:
http://www.glutenfreepassport.com/traveling/translations.html
.
In the summer, every night
is truly special on the romantic terrace of the Villa Italia,
with its beautiful views of the Port of Andratx. Not only
does this majestic villa offer gluten-free French and Italian
gastronomic delights, it is also a luxurious 5-star hotel
(http://www.hotelvillaitalia.com).
On a warm summer afternoon, you can spend a relaxing day on
a sun bed by the pool if you take a trip to the town of El
Toro. La Terraza is the place to do this, with their
delicious gluten-free Mediterranean cuisine and beautiful
views of the sailboats of Port Adriano.
While in the capitol Palma,
enjoy the modern nightlife of the Harbour Club
(http://www.harbourclubpalma.com),
where you can not only have an excellent gluten-free Asian-Fusion
dining experience, but also mingle with an eclectic cosmopolitan
crowd. If the trendy hipster environment doesn’t suit
your fancy, you can also enjoy an elegant evening at the Hotel
Gran Meliá Victoria (http://www.granmeliavictoria.solmelia.com),
which offers fresh Mediterranean cuisine with a distinctively
Majorcan flair and views of the Paseo Marítimo, the
famous Cathedral and the harbor of Palma.
 If
you are in the mood for beef, you have to visit El Rancho
Asador Argentino (http://www.elranchoargentino.com)
for authentic dining experience featuring sirloin that is
specially imported directly from Argentina to the island.
Those who wish to have a little Zen moment while they savor
their food will love the ambiance and amazing gluten-free
Asian cuisine at Triangulo Dorado on Avenida Joan Miro
in Palma. Chef Shan de Jiang will create an amazing assortment
of Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese dishes especially
for you!
With all of the amazing
restaurant choices, quality accommodations and beautiful scenery
that Majorca has to offer, it’s hard to think of a better
place for the celiac or gluten-free traveler to vacation.
Hopefully spending a sun-drenched afternoon on one of the
most gorgeous beaches in the Mediterranean, then dining and
dancing the night away in Palma, seems like an excellent idea
to you. Maybe we’ll even see you there very soon!
Restaurant Spotlight
Koldo Royo Bistro
The bistro at Koldo Royo
restaurant, also called Espacio KR, is a recent addition
to the establishment’s premises. Located on the ground
floor of the main restaurant, it offers two fixed price menus
for lunch and dinner. Choose the set menu of the day, Menú
del Potaje for €20 per person, with different dishes
daily from Monday to Saturday, or the more elaborate menu
of the week for €29 per person. The Bistro is an ideal
alternative for those with time constraints who want to sample
the fabulous creations of Michelin star chef Koldo Royo, who
is one of Spain’s most famous culinary personalities.
Chef Koldo Royo is originally
from San Sebastian in the Basque country. He came to Majorca
17 years ago to open Porto Pi restaurant, where he
was awarded a Michelin star, which he has kept ever since.
Among his many accomplishments and merits, he was awarded
the title of Spain's champion young cook, and finished in
6th place at the Bocuse d'Or international competition in
Lyon, France.
For lunch you can enjoy
a delicious gluten-free haricot bean stew with cod, or scrambled
eggs with foie gras. Dinner specialties include fresh sea
bass with garlic and beef entrecote with tarragon sauce. To
finish your meal, try the classic caramel flan with cream,
melon sorbet with strawberry soup or their special cream flan
with fruit sauce. As chef Royo states, "All of our dishes
are prepared with the best products and with lots of love
and care," so guests that are gluten-free, dairy-free,
and even vegetarians are all happily catered to.
Koldo Royo Bistro
is open for lunch from 1:30 to 3:30 PM Monday through Saturday,
and open for dinner from 8:30 to 11:15. In the winter, they
are also closed on Monday, and you can forget visiting between
May 12th and May 22nd when the restaurant
is closed for company holidays.
Koldo Royo Bistro
Ingeniero Gabriel Roca 3
Palma, Mallorca
Balearic Islands
Spain
Phone: +34 971 732 435
http://www.koldoroyo.com
Kim Koeller and Robert La
France are President and Executive Vice President of GlutenFree
Passport®. They are internationally recognized speakers,
global consultants and co-authors of the award-winning Let’s
Eat Out! Your Passport to Living Gluten and Allergy Free
book series. This innovative series is the winner of the Best
Language Guide and 4-time award finalist
for Best Health & Diet, Best Health & Wellness, Best
Travel Guide and Best First Book Non-Fiction. For more information
and free educational materials, please visit http://www.glutenfreepassport.com.
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