Welcome, bon vivants! The Spotlight team recently went on a guided walking food tour in the port of Ibiza Town and Dalt Vila, its historical quarter. Organised by Ibiza Food Tours, it was a smashing way to sample some of the island's most delicious dishes, find out about the capital's history and - best of all - meet up with fellow food lovers from around the globe.
The rendezvous point was the iconic hippy statue in the bustling heart of the port. Here we met our guide for the evening, John. Friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, he gave us a brief rundown of the culinary delights that lay ahead before setting off.
At our first stop we sampled exquisite, delicately sliced Iberian hams and Manchego cheeses, washed down with glasses of choice cava. It was fascinating to learn about the Spanish art of ham slicing and the different coloured hams.
From there we strolled to Vara del Rey, where we paused so that John could tell us about the history of the square and such iconic establishments as the Montesol Hotel.
Thence our eager epicures struck out for the atmospheric winding alleys of the part of the Old Town known as Sa Penya. Here we found - a tiny gastronomic gem run by chef Boris and the perfect spot to share food and socialise. We were treated to a delicious cauliflower dish and some excellent wines.
Wandering back down to the port, John regaled us with more anecdotes about this richly historical part of Ibiza Town. At our next stop we sampled what John described as the "world's best sandwiches" (he wasn't exaggerating: they were finalists in Spain's Best Sandwich competition in 2019!). We plumped for a classic: sobrasada sausage and crumbly Mahon cheese, oozing in honey and a rich meaty sauce, which had our merry group swooning.
Fuelled by this fine fare, we headed for our next destination, a downtown mecca for tapas lovers. Here they served us a lovely selection of those northern Spanish specialities including spicy patatas bravas, a choice of succulent croquettes, and pimientos padró, all washed down with a few glasses of Rioja wine.
Somewhat tipsily, our intrepid crew took to the road once more, traversing the port to climb the cobbled street that leads up to Dalt Vila's main square, Plaza de Vila. After so many scrumptious savoury dishes, it was time for something sweet and, boy did the one we went to deliver! Their freshly made Italian-style ice creams, featuring generous scoops of lip-smacking varieties such as pistachio, Indian mango, coconut, and dulce de leche went down a storm!
After we'd devoured them, John bid us farewell. Not only had we enjoyed a superb selection of foods and learned many interesting snippets along the way, but it was clear the group had bonded nicely. So, if you want to immerse yourself in Ibiza Town's famed food culture while taking in its sights and sounds and meeting other holidaymakers, book your place on an Ibiza Food Tour now.
