Whether you are on Ibiza for a holiday or lucky enough to call the White Isle ‘home’, there are some occasions that demand a touch of the extraordinary. And for culinary connoisseurs, The View at 7Pines Resort Ibiza delivers just that!
On a balmy summer night in July, the Ibiza Spotlight team was delighted to be invited to try the delectable tasting menu created by executive chef Andrés Fernández.
Perhaps one of our favourite parts of living on this magical island is that it always has an unexpected wow moment up its sleeve, and from the moment we set foot onto The View's elevated dining space, they just kept coming!
We had accepted our invite to dinner with much excitement, deliberately keeping lunch light as to not spoilt our appetites for this special meal. Located on the cliffs of the island’s sunset coast in the West, in the three years since its opening 7Pines Resort Ibiza has gained a reputation for its elegant surroundings, blissful spa and fine dining experiences.
As well as The View, the luxury hotel is also home to the fabulous Pershing Yacht terrace – perfect for sunset cocktails and Japanese nibbles – and the laidback, vibrant Cone Club. But on this night, we were thrilled to take our seats on the L-shaped, glass-fronted balcony that wraps around the building offering a double-whammy of breathtaking vistas!
To the left, an expanse of deep, blue sea, with an unspoilt view on the striking outcrop of Es Vedrá, shrouded in mystery and the subject of many fascinating tales. To the right, the golden light of the setting sun as the fireball disappears into the waves right in font of your eyes.
Making our way to the table, this was the first of many moments when the word ‘wow’ escaped our mouths.
With a focus on seasonal, locally sourced produce of the highest quality, The View champions modern Mediterranean cuisine interpreted with a contemporary touch. The dishes are elaborate masterpieces of textures, colours and flavours, a taste sensation you will not forget!
As well as the a la carte menu, guests who want to let Andrés Fernández take them on a gastronomic journey can choose between a four-course or six-course tasting selection, with the option to add on a wine pairing curated by 7Pines Resort Ibiza’s young, up-and-coming sommelier. A vegetarian version is also available.
It wasn’t long before the attentive waiting staff brought out the first plates, a culinary ‘welcome committee’ – or amuse bouche - of miniature bao buns filled with fresh prawn meat, a penne-shaped, wafer-thin pasta roll topped with delicate shavings of truffled beef, a parmesan soufflé filled with silky mushroom cream and a light, refreshing melon cube infused with yuzu citrus fruit and saké rice wine.
These little delights were followed by the plumpest, pillowy-soft oysters we had ever tasted, drenched in a classic red onion and ginger vinaigrette. So far, so excellent!
But that was only the start – we hadn’t even begun with the first round of dishes from the four-course selection.
Arranged like a piece of art on a plate, the starter arrived: yellow tail Hamachi – also known as Japanese amberjack or yellowtail – accompanied by a bright green celery, cucumber and yuzu dressing.
‘WOW,’ we couldn’t help ourselves exclaiming after the first bite, the incredibly soft, yet substantial texture of the fish immediately revealing the high quality of the ingredients. Meanwhile, the zesty green sauce exploded with vibrant flavours, tailing off with a just a little touch of spice.
As we had also opted for the wine pairing, we savoured each bite with a sip of aromatic and fragrant Branco de Santa Cruz 2018 from Valdeorras, Spain, an elegant choice for this light starter.
While we were awaiting our next course, we couldn’t help but be distracted by the spectacle of the setting sun. With some fine deep house beats drifting into our ear from the open-air DJ booth on the ground level, the scene was set magically for a very special dining experience. Around us, the tables were filled with enamoured couples and happy families, so it is highly recommended to get your reservations in early!
Next up was fillet of red snapper served with delightfully squidgy pearls of Fregola Sarda, a type of Italian pasta typical on the island of Sardinia, and an aromatic sauce made with artichokes and fresh chunks of oranges. The textures and flavours were so perfectly balanced, it truly tasted like heaven on a plate!
An Ibiza favourite, the smooth and sophisticated notes of the famous Whispering Angel rosé wine by Château d’Esclans from Provence, France, was the perfect playful accompaniment.
With the sky turning pink, purple and, finally, a deep inky blue, it was time for our main course: a duo of veal cheek and tenderloin, the latter cooked to pink-in-the-middle perfection. Meanwhile, the veal cheek melted in our mouths, contrasted by a crunchy and refreshing pecan nut and fennel salad, and finished off with silky parsnip puree.
So far, all plates had been accompanied by exclamations of delight - and this one was no different. A warm Château Haut Beauséjour from the Saint-Estephe region in France with hints of red fruit enhanced the hearty meat flavours further, leaving us swooning once again.
With little room left for dessert, the grand finale of the night came in the shape of a Caraïbe 66% dark chocolate mousse served on a crunchy biscuit base and accompanied by caramelised banana slices set off with cardamom and passion fruit coulis. Paired expertly with a sweet, silky Eiswine Kracher Cuvée Liliac 2017 from Burgenland, Austria, we savoured every last mouthful.
Spectacular from start to finish, as we got ready to head to head home the unison conclusion was that no gourmand worth their salt should miss this outstanding dining experience – served up with a side of jaw-dropping views!
To avoid disappointment, make sure to book ahead well in advance - you can reserve your table right here!
