Tour Review: Ibiza Outdoors Food Tour (Ibiza)
- Dirk Vandereyken
- Dec 3, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: May 2
Of course, there are quite a few food tours to be found in Ibiza, but a quick search on the internet soon reveals that Ibiza Outdoors is among the most highly rated guided activities on the island.
Download the full article by clicking on the link above
Naturally, there are quite a few food tours to be found in Ibiza, but a quick internet search soon reveals that Ibiza Outdoors ranks among the island’s most highly recommended guided activities.
Our guide, the passionate Alice Gatto, is also a true wine expert who worked in the luxury beverage industry for 15 years. For instance, she was responsible for the marketing and sales strategy in the UK for the prestigious brand Ferrari Trento. Someone with such a deep knowledge of gastronomy seems like a great pick for a guide, but social skills are just as important – and Alice proves to have those in abundance as well. The friendly Italian turns out to be an outstanding guide who knows a great deal – not just about food and drink, but also about all sorts of fascinating Ibiza-related trivia. Top-notch!
The tour kicks off at Bar Peixet, where guests can enjoy different types of sangria, including an excellent version with brandy. Alice tells us that the word sangria is derived from the Spanish sangre, meaning ‘blood,’ referring to the drink’s deep red color. Historically, people would add various kinds of fruit and spices to their wine to improve the taste and… to increase the alcohol content. Clever, right?
In addition to the sangria, we get to taste boquerones (less salty than traditional anchovies) served with fresh bread. Naturally, the classic tortilla is also on the menu, a dish that—according to legend – originated during a time of scarcity, when people had to make a nutritious meal using limited ingredients.
During the tour, we also learn a bit about the origin of tapas. The word tapa means ‘lid’ in Spanish, and one popular theory is that people used to place a piece of bread or ham over their glass to protect their drink from insects. Another story claims that King Alfonso X, after an illness, decreed that wine should always be served with a small bite to prevent excessive drinking.
At Bocarillo, we sample the award-winning sobrasada de Mallorca and local Ibizan cheese, known for its distinctive salty flavor derived from Ibiza’s mineral-rich salt. That salt is harvested from the island’s salt flats and heavily promoted thanks to its high quality and unique flavor profile.
We’re pleasantly surprised to find that we also get to stop by Ibiza Food Studio, which we recently had the chance to visit in a journalistic capacity – more on that in a separate article and in our Ibiza Special. Once again, we’re treated to the sublime tomato consommé and the rolled beetroot appetizer. Wonderful – and such a treat to see owner and chef Boris again so soon!
Our culinary journey ends at a cozy bistro, where a variety of tapas are served: delicious artisanal croquettes (including cod, spinach, and oxtail), the classic patatas bravas, and spicy padrón peppers.
But we’re in for a final treat: a visit to one of the city’s best gelaterias! The atmosphere is amazing – the little square is buzzing with people enjoying drinks (and often a snack), and our group has clearly bonded by now, judging by how many of us decide to keep hanging out after the official ending. In fact, we end up visiting a cocktail bar with three other participants… and return to our hotel much later than planned.
Ibiza Outdoors is the right choice for anyone wanting to discover not just the flavors of Ibiza, but also the stories and traditions that bring these dishes to life.
The combination of historical insights, local delicacies, and the expertise of Alice Gatto makes this a tour we can wholeheartedly recommend.
More info: www.ibizaoutdoors.com
Photos: Benny Bicker, David Robyn
Text: Dirk Vandereyken
Comments