EuropeanTraveler

Cova d’en Xoroi: Club in a Cave

By Alison Ramsey

Best place to enjoy a lemonade + gin pomada? Cova d’en Xoroi—a daytime bar and afterhours club in a south coast cliffside cave that overlooks the beautiful Balearic Sea. Here on the outdoor patios you can watch the sun sink into the horizon and sip a drink in its glow. At 1 AM, a DJ starts spinning and the cavern becomes a dance club.

The recipe for Gin Xoriguer dates back to the early 1700s, and the distillery’s copper stills are more than 250 years old. The refreshing “pomada” cocktail consists of two parts lemonade and one part gin.

The Cova d’en Xoroi legend tells of a man named Xoroi who arrived by sea (perhaps a shipwreck survivor) and took refuge in the cave. During this time, a beautiful young woman from the country disappeared and was missing for years. One wintry day, a rare snowfall revealed footprints leading to the cave. Armed men stormed the cave and discovered Xoroi, the missing woman who had fallen in love with him, and their three children. Xoroi felt cornered and he and his eldest son jumped off the cliff into the sea, never to be seen again. The woman and her other children were taken back to Alaior, where they began a long lineage.

The cave’s interior has ample seating and booths with a sea view.

Nightlife at Cova d’en Xoroi features a variety of musical artists and themes, depending on the night. The live music schedule is posted online, and tickets can often be bought in advance.

Tickets are required for entry to the cave bar, with visiting hours segmented into a day session where children are welcome, an ambient sunset session suggested for adults, and an adults-only afterhours disco session. VIP seating is available for reservation, and the dress code restricts tank tops, beachwear, and sportswear, so dress to impress!

*A picture-worthy setting, the sunset backdrop is ideal for capturing a cuddle.*

Souvenir Spotlight

In addition to the incredible photos you will undoubtedly take home with you from the cave bar, stop for souvenirs in the fantastic gift shop up by the entryway. There you can browse a mix of locally made products, including handcrafted avarcas sandals by RIA Menorca and breezy Pou Nou island wear.

My gift shop souvenirs included colorful, woven RIA avarcas with a leather backstrap, and a lightweight Pou Nou tunic with shell buttons and a fish motif.

“Our company is based in Menorca, in the heart of the Mediterranean, and our designs are inspired by the island’s amazing elements—crystal-clear waters, magical beaches, and wild olive trees shimmering as the tramontana wind caresses them.”
Joan Carrés, Pou Nou founder

Menorcan Lobster Stew: A Seaside Specialty

By Alison Ramsey

There is a first time for everything. First time visiting Menorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain; first time eating traditional lobster stew; first time holding a live lobster! The first two “firsts” were by choice, and the third was a complete surprise, as waiter Carlos at Es Cranc in Fornells Harbor gestured for me to hold out my hand and suddenly I was gripping a ridged pair of long antennae in my fist, with a huge lobster hanging at the bottom of them.

*A lively, rambunctious lobster indicates that it is fresh.*

This particular lobster did not end up in our soup bowls at lunch, but a similar one did, and it was key to the flavor of this traditional Menorcan dish. Invented by fishermen and later tweaked by chefs across the island, caldereta is the most renowned dish of Menorca’s seafood cuisine and can be made with lobster, eels, and varieties of fish. Surprisingly, the lobster that visitors relish in Menorca was once considered by islanders to be food for the poor due to its overabundance. Now it is a highly coveted gastronomical treat that restaurateurs take pride in preparing, especially during peak tourist season.

The tanks at Es Cranc can hold 3,600 lobsters—all from Menorca only. Elevated trays hold the lobsters that arrive that day, whereas lobsters from previous catches crawl along the bottoms of the tanks.

Caldereta de langosta (spiny lobster stew) is a simple recipe traditionally made by braising the locally caught spiny lobster over high heat with a savory sauce containing peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. Typically served with homemade bread, you can soak the sauce into the slices, or you can simply spoon it up. The lobster stew served at Es Cranc contains several large, meaty portions of tender lobster in a hot, flavorful broth. Dainty eaters, don’t despair—Es Cranc provides bibs, lobster picks, and small bowls of cleansing water for messy hands.

The word “caldereta” refers to the earthenware cauldron in which the stew is prepared.

Whether it’s your first trip to Menorca or you’re a repeat visitor, plan for a meal at Es Cranc. You, too, might get to hold a wiggling crustacean!

A digestif of chilled “herbes” (herbal liqueur) brought the meal to a close. This sweet liqueur can be made with a variety of plants, the most popular being chamomile, as it is found in abundance across the island.

Gin Xoriguer is the most popular Menorcan gin, made from grapes and juniper berries. The distillery has used traditional methods to make this drink for almost a century, and the creator’s family windmill featured on the unique bottle has become a recognizable symbol of the island. Mixed with lemonade, this gin makes a delightfully refreshing drink called a pomada.

Lobster Stew Recipe

A traditional recipe for lobster stew, as printed in Menorcan Cuisine Yesterday and Today: Undiscovered Recipes.

Ingredients
2 kg lobster
2 onions
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 green pepper
250 g tomatoes
1 bunch of parsley
7 tbsp. of olive oil
1.5 litres of water
slices of bread for soup or toasted bread
salt

Preparation
Cut the live lobsters into two on a wooden chopping board, separating the head from the tails; reserve the juices in a separate bowl. Split open the body and remove the black intestines using your hands or one of its feelers or antennae. Remove the legs and other feelers. For female lobsters, place the eggs in the bowl, and do the same with the stomachs and livers. Finally, cut the heads in half down the middle, and cut the bodies into slices, making sure to save all the juices.

Finely chop the onion, garlic and green pepper. Place the oil in an earthenware pot and gently fry the vegetables over a low heat. When the onion is translucent, add the very finely diced tomatoes (or they can be grated or blended). Cook over a very low heat for around 10 minutes.

Place the lobsters in the pot and leave to cook a little. Then add the juices, water and chopped parsley, season with salt and cook over a high heat for 15 minutes. When it starts to boil, reduce the heat and cook for a further half an hour.

Meanwhile, grind the lobster eggs, stomachs and livers in a pestle and mortar with a little garlic and parsley, adding the rest of the liquids and a little water to moisten the mixture. When there are just a few minutes’ cooking time left, add the mixture to the pot.

Turn the stove off and leave the stew to rest for at least two hours. In fact, it will be much tastier if made the day before eating. To serve, pour the broth with the lobster pieces into soup bowls, with slices of toast.

Victorinox Values Safety Stylishly

By Alison Ramsey

Airport check-in is hectic and rushed. We juggle handbags, wallets, snacks, laptops, babies, cellphones, boarding passes, IDs, passports—and all while trying to pour out the rest of our water bottles before security demands it. I did A LOT of research before purchasing the attractive accessory that majorly simplified my check-in process—the Victorinox Travel Organizer with RFID Protection. The $55 price tag might seem like a lot, but Victorinox is a brand I stand by because they focus on quality, sturdy construction, and smart technology. A brand leader in Switzerland and the rest of the world, Victorinox puts its energy into several categories of products, although it all began with the legendary and esteemed Swiss Army knife. Besides cutlery, this Swiss company produces watches, fragrances, and travel gear.

In terms of travel gear, the Victorinox Travel Organizer specifically meets my needs due to its large capacity to hold multiple passports and boarding passes (so I can keep track of my kids’ passports and papers as well as my own). Although it comes in either black or red, I chose the eye-catching bright red color so it would show up in my dark-lined bag and would be easy to spot if I misplaced it. The zipper is sturdy and secure, zipping around 3 sides of the wallet to completely contain the contents.

The interior offers 12 credit card slots, with one covered in a see-through mesh to keep an ID or business card visible. Its long, zippered pocket is perfect for cash or documents that need safe keeping. The interior “spine” of the organizer reveals a canvas tube for storing a pen. The right side of the wallet consists of 4 tall pockets and dividers that help you separate your boarding passes and passports, and can even hold reading glasses, earbuds, and your cell phone. The zippered mesh pocket on this side is perfect to hold coins, jewelry, more open-faced IDs, or small items that need containment. The outer, backside of the organizer even has a wide, extra pocket for storing customs papers and tickets that you want to keep easily accessible without unzipping the whole wallet. A strong canvas loop at the top corner allows you to keep a firm grip on your valuables by sliding a finger through for extra security.

Speaking of security, this wallet safeguards your private data by blocking radio-frequency identification (RFID), preventing others from scanning your credit cards and ID cards and wirelessly obtaining your personal information. I felt very confident storing my travel documents and accessories in this handsome wallet as I traveled internationally through multiple airports and customs desks.

10.2”H x 1.2”L x 5.1”W; Weight 0.4 lbs
$55, www.victorinox.com

United Offers Direct Flights from US to Spanish Islands

By Alison Ramsey

Great news for U.S. travelers with Spanish islands on their “Places to Go” lists – this summer, United Airlines is launching direct flights from New York/Newark (EWR) to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) and Tenerife Sur (TFS).

*Royal Palace of La Almudaina in Palma, Mallorca*

These seasonal flight offerings (June through September) are your opportunity to visit the Balearic Islands or Canary Islands without first stopping on the Spanish mainland. This new expansion makes United Airlines the U.S. carrier serving the largest number of destinations in Spain.

Flights to/from the Balearic Islands:

• New York/Newark – Palma de Mallorca

Flight UA236 EWR 20:55 – PMI 11:00 three flights weekly, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays

• Palma de Mallorca – New York/Newark

Flight UA237 PMI 12:55 – EWR 16:10 three flights weekly, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Mondays

Flights to/from the Canary Islands:

• New York/Newark – Tenerife South

Flight UA248 EWR 21:50 – TFS 09:55 three flights weekly, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays

• Tenerife South – New York/Newark

Flight UA249 TFS 12:00 – EWR 14:55 three flights weekly, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays

Stay tuned for fresh travel stories about Mallorca and Menorca – coming soon!

Snack Responsibly With Roll’eat

By Alison Ramsey

How many plastic sandwich and snack bags do you use in a week? If you pack a lunch and snacks for work or school, probably too many to count! You can help reduce pollution and protect our planet by switching to reusable food wrappers by Roll’eat. These sandwich and snack bags come in a wide variety of fun colors and prints – from animals to fruits to bold solids and flashy patterns, you can pack some personality into your purse or lunch bag!

On a recent work trip full of long tours, the hotel’s abundant continental breakfasts were too tempting to ignore. Many colleagues sustained themselves throughout the long days by wrapping mixed nuts or an extra pastry into a tissue-thin napkin in the morning and stuffing it into a pocket or bag. As you know, this rudimentary wrapping often results in a crushed croissant or a pocket of loose, linty legumes. Roll’eat Snack’n’Go and Boc’n’Roll reusable bags are the perfect solution to this problem, protecting your snacks from spilling or squashing, and they provide zero waste!

The eco-friendly Snack’n’Go is a 7”x7” soft pouch with a durable upper closure and a leak- and stain-resistant inner layer that ensures your snacks remain fresh. The double-layered fabric can be wiped on the outside and inside with a damp cloth or washed in the washing machine, and the bags can fold down to a small size for easy packability. They are lead-free, BPA-free, and hassle-free for life on the go. There is even a Snack’n’Go Duo that features 2 pockets, so you can slip a saucy sub sandwich into one and some crunchy munchies into another, keeping your food items separated.

Roll’eat bags also give you the option to pack healthy food from home instead of relying on junk food from vending machines or supporting the production of pre-packaged, high-calorie snacks. You can snack on fresh, natural foods that support better health, while using a snack holder made of materials that don’t cause harm to your health or to nature.

The Boc’n’Roll sandwich holder opens flat to turn into an ~18”x13” placemat, protecting your food from dirty surfaces, and it can fold compactly, depending on the food you’re enclosing. I am one who loves wrapping gifts, and each use of the Boc’n’Roll is like preparing a colorful present to open later! You place your sandwich in the center and fold up each side over it until easily securing it with a button or strip of fabric fastener, depending on the model. The fabric is beautiful and tough, but please don’t use sharp utensils around it or try to cut a sandwich in half on top, to avoid puncturing it.

The Bio line by Roll’eat is 100% biodegradable and sustainable. The fabric of these is an organic cotton canvas in solid colors, with a natural wooden button enclosure. These compostable materials are manufactured using fewer fossil sources and will eventually decompose faster while using less energy than other materials – another chance to be kind to Mother Earth and reduce negative effects.

Reduce harmful waste, promote environmental awareness, choose a responsible lifestyle, pack healthy foods – Roll’eat bags help you do all of that while adding style to your snack life! Please visit RolleatUSA.com to shop the collection and learn more about the Roll’eat mission and impact.

“Think eco, be smart!”