Ottolenghi at Atzaró – A culinary first for Ibiza

Ibiza gourmands, take note – all gastronomic roads lead to the bucolic countryside of San Lorenzo this Saturday evening, where globally revered chef, author and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi hosts a very special sharing dinner in collaboration with Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel. An intimate, community-style event designed to tantalise the tastebuds and transport diners into a world of edible wonder, Ottolenghi at Atzaró takes place within the glorious Atzaró Vegetable Garden from 8pm – the magnificent three-hectare organic garden providing the perfect backdrop for the five-course feast curated by Yotam himself.

When it comes to cuisine, the chef-patron of the Ottolenghi Deli and Restaurant Group is a true trailblazer, having hugely influenced the way much of the world cooks and eats ever since he opened the doors to his very first deli and bakery in 2002 and launched his first cookbook (of many) in 2008. His philosophy is based on vibrant and colourful dishes, bold flavour combinations, and innovative use of herbs and spices. Television specials, more cookbooks, a regular column in The Guardian, and a string of successful restaurants and delis across London made Ottolenghi a household name, and the culinary phenomenon known as ‘the Ottolenghi effect’ has significantly shifted modern gastronomy via an adventurous foray into a vegetable-centric approach to cooking and eating. And now, it is the chef’s time to shine here in Ibiza with his first ever island event, Ottolenghi at Atzaró.

Arrive at Ottolenghi at Atzaró at 8pm to enjoy welcome drinks and live music as the setting sun casts a golden tint across the charming walkways, terraces and meticulously tended organic vegetable patches of the Atzaró Vegetable Garden – the authentic heart of Ibiza. Bright pink bougainvillea dusts the vistas and the scent of night jasmine drifts past long wooden tables shaded by olive, palm and pine trees, and beautifully set with crisp linens, flickering candles and rustic, natural decoration. Here, guests will take their seats – bookings for groups of four or six are recommended for easy conversation and sharing over the course of the night – as Ottolenghi himself will welcome you to the event and introduce you to the evening’s concept.

Ottolenghi at Atzaró features a five-course, sharing-style dinner that showcases a harmonious blend of Ottolenghi’s unmistakable style, the organic bounty sourced directly from the Atzaró Vegetable Garden, just metres away from your table, and non-vegetable elements that have been sourced locally. Expect dishes that dance with delight across the palate, each moment carefully crafted to pay homage to the vibrant spirit of Ibiza and Ottolenghi’s Israeli roots, as the chef and his talented team brings the carefully considered menu – created just for this event – to life. A pairing of local wines has been selected to complement the cuisine, creating the perfect union of Ibiza flavours and Ottolenghi’s iconic style.

The first taste of virtuosity arrives as honeyed, caramelised onions doused in a fresh herb salsa and served with crudité from Atzaró Vegetable Garden, served alongside grilled pimientos de padrón with muhammara – roasted red pepper dip – topped with walnuts and a sticky pomegranate molasses. Ibiza’s world-famous tomatoes (also from the Atzaró Vegetable Garden) are served with confit herbs and a scattering of sesame while a black lime focaccia is a tangy moment ensconced within the bounciness of homemade bread. As the wine and conversation flow at Ottolenghi at Atzaró, diners are not only seduced by the flavours of each dish but by the soft melodies of Flamenco guitar travelling across the gardens, a perfectly calibrated collaboration of the senses.

Main dishes at Ottolenghi at Atzaró present a wonderful melange of flavours. Roasted aubergine comes with feta cream, chermoula and orange; chargrilled zucchini is layered with Manchego cheese, steeped in burnt butter and sprinkled with pine nuts. A tender lamb shawarma appears with pita pockets slathered in sumac tahini, stuffed with mint salad, and dusted with pomegranate arils. The white flesh of celeriac arrives on skewers basted in a fragrant chilli oil accompanied by a refreshing herb salad and toum – an Israeli relative of alioli. To end the meal, Ottolenghi’s fabled pavlova reflects the colours of sunset at Atzaró Agroturismo Hotel with apricots, orange blossom and crushed pistachio.

This extraordinary night of gourmet excellence reaches its crescendo with a rare chance to connect with the legend himself. Ottolenghi will be signing copies of his bestselling book, Flavour, for each guest to take home, a treasured keepsake that will forever remind them of this already unforgettable experience. The fusion of Ottolenghi’s culinary artistry with the natural beauty of the surroundings and the abundant fresh produce plucked directly from the rich red soil of the Atzaró Vegetable Garden grounds creates an atmosphere of unparalleled enchantment.

Tickets to Ottolenghi at Atzaró are 225€ per person, and include the five-course meal, drinks, live music, the Flamenco show and a signed Ottolenghi book – advance reservations necessary as this event is guaranteed to be a sellout.

The cool pool

As readers of my blog would know by now, I live within the beautiful ancient fortress walls of Dalt Vila. And I love it. But I have to admit, there is one thing that my esteemed UNESCO World Heritage Listed Site address is missing… and it’s something I can’t live without.

A swimming pool! But of course, I’m not planning on moving… err, EVER… so over the years I have learned to compromise! Sure, I know the beach is great, the beach is close by and Ibiza’s beaches are among the best in the world, but let’s face it – some days you just don’t want to get sand in your shoes (and the rest!). Surprisingly, there are very few swimming pools in Ibiza that are open to the general public (with the exception of the child-filled, over-chlorinated public pools that I wouldn’t dare dip my toe in!)… but there is one, that is considered an islander’s best kept secret, an oasis in the middle of the countryside that I make a point of visiting as often as I can.

Ladies and gentlemen, without any further ado, I give you… Agroturismo Atzaro!

 What? I hear you think. Isn’t that just for hotel guests? No my friends, Atzaro is for everyone! All you have to do is ask*… (click here to request time at the Atzaro pool through White Ibiza) And the best part is, it’s not just one pool you get to use, it’s TWO!

I love Atzaro. To me, it is pure and simple Ibiza magic. As I start driving up the dusty camino that leads towards the hotel, I feel as if I am on holiday. And sometimes, despite what people think, here in Ibiza, we need a holiday from our daily lives!

So it was a sunny Ibiza Saturday when chief White and myself (plus little miss mini-White) decided we were definitely in need of some sun, a good healthy meal and all-round relaxation, so we made ourselves a booking and made haste to San Juan! We could even use the excuse that we were there for research, checking out the location of our upcoming fashion show on July 23!

First stop: Atzaro Spa, where we collected our towels and locker keys and grabbed ourselves the premium spot on the oversized cushions at the end of the pool (well, it’s my favourite of all the day beds, anyway – you can choose your own!). From here, you get a birds eye view straight across the beautiful, glimmering lap pool, finishing with the blaze of bougainvillea that covers the hotel walls. Not a bad place to set up camp for the day, especially once I had a strawberry daiquiri in my hand!

After a quick dip to cool off (high summer is well and truly here now), we basked in the sunlight for an hour or so before our tummies (and our little person) reminded us there was a restaurant awaiting our arrival, so it was off to La Veranda – which now has a much-appreciated cover over the terrace for those who (like us) love an alfresco experience.

Our starters arrived first, a pretty little jar of beetroot gazpacho, a millet and red pepper salad plus a smoked tofu dip with homemade bread – having walked past the Atzaro vegetable gardens just a few moments before, we knew the ingredients were as fresh as they could possibly be, having been plucked from the earth that very morning!

For the main meal, a melt-in-your-mouth ravioli of artichoke and ricotta, with fresh rocket and a coconut brown rice risotto with fresh boletus mushrooms. We were served beautiful flavoured water, with cucumber, strawberry and mint but since it was a Saturday and all… we ordered a lovely bottle of icy cold rose to wash down our meals.

Just for the record, our mini-me tucked into the kid’s menu special penne Napolitana and gave it her mini tick of approval. With a chocolate shake, which, by the sounds of the slurps coming from our little companion, was pretty tasty indeed.

Dessert was a delicious mango mousse, with a side of fresh berries and by this stage I was feeling a serious need for a lie down. Lucky we were just metres from the hotel swimming pool… where we took the closest three sun loungers and proceeded to drift off in the warm late afternoon sunshine (after a hefty application of sunscreen of course).

I cannot tell you enough how much I love this pool. It instantly transports you to that holiday feeling, an escape from reality and has an instantly calming effect on me. Surrounded by beautiful palm trees, with the sounds of frogs in the lily pond, sheep in the field and Balearic music playing on the cabana bar stereo… there’s just something about it that you can’t get anywhere else. Not even Dalt Vila.