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El Capricho steak at Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous

When it comes to gastronomy, Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous Mallorca brings world-class à la carte dining plus the moon and the stars. For drinks or pre-dinner tipples guests can head to the stylish Selini lobby bar. Selini, of course, is the Greek word for Moon. A gourmet experience of stellar proportions awaits In the Astir Restaurant. Astir means star in Greek and this restaurant shines brightly.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous Dining

Photo credit Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous

The Astir Restaurant has an outdoor terrace complete with Dom Pérignon Champagne Bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served at the Astir and we ate all our meals al fresco on the terrace. The weather was warm and balmy and to eat accompanied by the sound of the waves gently lapping the sandy cove was delightful.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous Dining

Photo credit Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous

If the weather’s not so affable then diners can eat in the inside. The interior space of the Astir is light and airy with vaulted ceilings and the inimitable Marcel Wander signature style.

Astir Restaurant Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous


Read more: Reviewed Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Mallorca


The Food at Grand Portals Nous

Cuisine at Astir is a fusion of traditional Mallorcan gastronomy and modern cuisine. Dishes, bursting with flavour, use the best local organic produce. We started the evening by getting acquainted with the Champagne Bar and some delicious hotel signature cocktails.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous Cocktails

Tasting Menu

For dinner we indulged in the beautifully presented tasting menu, each dish served up like a mini work of art. First off was Cordoba-style chilled salmorejo soup, dressed crab, lobster caviar, octopus confit with star anise and strawberries. A delicious combination of light seafood flavours with a delicate hint of fruit.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Tasting Menu

A variety of textures and tastes followed with scallop and wild green asparagus salad, pine nut dressing, acorn-fed cured Iberian ham and light crispy parmentier. Beautifully simple with the saltiness of the ham enhancing the other flavours perfectly.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Tasting Menu

The fruits of the sea continued with beech wood-smoked cod, char-grilled peppers with marrowbone, Jerusalem artichoke, shimeji mushroom and spinach casserole.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Tasting Menu

Acorn-fed Iberian pork skirt steak, violetta potatoes, toasted almonds, pink onion and sesame was one of my favourites dishes of the whole trip; beautifully cooked and utterly gorgeous.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Dining

The first of two desserts arrived; Pina colada parfait, passion fruit cream, matcha tea, Malibu and fresh mango. I loved all the exotic fruit flavours but will never understand the appeal of matcha. Definitely an acquired taste methinks.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Tasting Menu

My favourite dessert was the rich chocolate textures and cherries with crème fraîche and kirsch ice cream. Dark fruits and berries complimented the smooth, slightly bitter chocolate to a tee.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Tasting Menu


Reasons you should visit Menorca and, because there was so much to see and do, check out part 2


Wines

Accompanying Spanish wines were a very acceptable white, José Pariente Verdejo 2016, from Rueda. The red, my favourite, was a Ribera del Duero Roble Pago de los Capellanes 2016, with hints of light spice and forest fruits.

A pretty plate of petit fours and coffee finished off the evening with a flourish.

I’d have liked a little more lighting on the terrace as it was quite dark and I do like to see what I’m eating. It’s so true that you eat with your eyes first. My photos aren’t the best due to the light. I don’t like to use my DSLR when in a restaurant so as not to disrupt other diners but I hope you get the gist.

Chef Ruben Aguilar

Chef Ruben Aguilar has worked in many Michelin starred restaurants across Europe. Raco de Can Fabes in Barcelona, Akelarre in San Sebatian, Onelvc in Valencia and Gordon Ramsay’s Petrus in London. More recently he was head chef at the Canvas in London which received three rosettes.

A Light Lunch

Next day I chose a light lunch of tomato salad.  I wanted to save myself for the evening which I knew was going to be a bit special.

El Capricho Meat

Gastronomy at Iberostar Grand Portals Nous is taken seriously. This was especially evident on our second evening when we were treated to El Capricho meat said, by those in the know, to be the best steak in the world. El Capricho steak is exceptional in both the way it’s reared and in flavour. The Astir is the only restaurant in Mallorca serving El Capricho.

El Capricho steak comes from Jimenez de Jamuz, a small village in the Basque region of Spain where José Gordon owns a farm and Restaurante El Capricho. In the UK and US cows are generally less than three years old when they’re slaughtered for the table. The ox and cattle that Gordon rears go to El Capricho for retirement. They meander in the meadows for four to five years to recover from the stresses and exhaustion of the milking process. I like that they get a bit of ‘moo time’ before meeting their maker. The result is that the meat, called buey in Spain, has an intense, well-rounded flavour.

El Capricho Tasting Menu

We start with Burrata and torn herb salad. Burrata is a soft mozzarella-type cheese with a creamy centre. If you see it on a menu try it – it’s scrumptious. I also had this for lunch on my first day.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous Dining

Hummus, tender green leaves and crunchy vegetables make up the next course and by this time we’re eager for the main event.

A sizzling platter of El Capricho ox rib eye steak is brought to our table and expertly carved in front of us. ‘Best meat in the world’ is quite some claim and I was afraid I was heading for a disappointment. I wasn’t. The meat was succulent, buttery soft and bursting with rich flavour. The whole table fell silent in appreciation. The simple accompaniments of nutty Ratte potatoes and Majorcan sautéed vegetables worked perfectly and tempered the richness of the meat.

El Capricho Iberostar Grand Portals Nous

Next, we’re served El Capricho beef rib eye steak, creamed Ratte potatoes and char-grilled sautéed vegetables. Served slightly rarer this time it’s just as delicious. We then have a final taste of a much rarer piece meat, rarer than I’d normally eat, but again superb.

El Capricho Iberostar Grand Portals Nous

It seems almost trivial to mention dessert after the El Capricho but the lemon and elderflower cannellone, raspberry jelly and goat’s cheese ice cream made the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.

Iberostar Grand Portals Nous Dining

A vegetarian tasting menu is also available which includes

  • Hummus, tender green leaves and crunchy vegetables
  • Majorcan tomatoes in dressing
  • Quinoa salad with a tomato foam
  • Thai-style sautéed vegetables
  • Faux bulgur risotto with wild mushrooms

Breakfast at Grand Portals Nous

I always partly rate a hotel on the quality of its breakfast. Iberostar Grand Portals Nous delivered. Breakfast is from the à la carte menu with a small buffet selection of cold meats and cheeses. After ordering coffee, which arrived at my table with a personal display shelf of pastries, I chose a fruit platter followed by Eggs Benedict. Both ticked all the boxes. To sit and eat breakfast in the warm sunshine looking out over the pretty bay to the sound of a classical Spanish guitarist was enough to keep me smiling all day.

IIberostar Grand Portals Nous, Calle Falconer, 19, Portals Nous, 07181 Calvià, Mallorca, Spain. Phone: +34 971 10 02 15

The hotel is a 20-minute taxi journey from Palma airport

My stay at Iberostar Grand Portals Nous was hosted, however, I have complete editorial control and, as always, bring you my own honest views and opinions of the hotel.

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Dining Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous

Sara @ Travel Continuum

Wednesday 1st of November 2017

Oh my giddy aunt - I need to get myself some of those plates!! :-)

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 2nd of November 2017

You do indeed!

Sara @ Travel Continuum

Friday 27th of October 2017

I love that the El Capricho cattle get a bit of 'moo time' - that tickled me! Those dishes are complete works of art, but tell me - do some of those black serving plates have cosmic designs with stars on them, or is it just expertly sprinkled salt?!

Suzanne Jones

Friday 27th of October 2017

Sometimes these things just pop into your head - so glad it was appreciated! They are actually cosmic plates - I thought the very same thing too and quite fitting that the restaurant is called Astir which means star in Greek :)

Lucy Dodsworth

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

Looks delicious – each plate is almost like a mini work of art, and the location is pretty fabulous too!

Suzanne Jones

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

It was all good Lucy - so good that I'd like to go back very soon!

Kathryn Burrington

Monday 23rd of October 2017

That all looks so good! Yes, the portions seem small but, as you say, you get a great many courses!

I need to try some of that steak though. I mainly eat a vegetarian diet but I can never resist a good steak when I eat out. Just wish restaurants here in the UK knew what a rare steak was. They always over cook it.

Suzanne Jones

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

The steak was very tender and full of flavour - perfectly cooked. I don't think I could have managed any more courses but a small serving with lots of different dishes always works well for me :)

Juergen | dare2go.com

Thursday 19th of October 2017

The gourmet style dining at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Portals Nous sure looks delicious, although I fear with the size of serves you show in your photos I would sneak to the nearest paella bar afterwards. But that's me, I never had much patience for "Nouvelle Cuisine" and Michelin starred chefs.

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 19th of October 2017

It was delicious indeed Juergen but there were so many courses that I don't think you'd go hungry!

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