Friday is generally celebrated throughout the world, with a few exceptions, as the best day of the week. Work is just about finished and the lure of the weekend is large. In Ibiza, however, it’s hard to keep track of the days so Friday, generally speaking, doesn’t have the same attraction, with the exception of the Friday just passed. I think it’s fair to say it could be one of my favourite Fridays of the year so far. It started off innocently enough, the usual routine of getting up too early and sitting down in front of the laptop to catch up on what’s gone on in the few hours I have been asleep and to make sure that Essentialibiza followers have some new stories to help them get through their day. It’s just then that the little calendar icon pops up on the screen to remind me we have a breakfast meeting in Atzaro. Result!
Quick shower, and we’re off to meet Kristina and discuss some up coming projects at the hotel. One of the perks of what we do is that I get to do a bit of travelling and there is nothing I appreciate better than a good hotel breakfast and in Atzaro, like everything it turns its hand to, it is perfect. What a great way to start the day. Coincidentally, our next port of call that afternoon is at another Atzaro project, Atzaro Beach, Cala Nova, where we have been invited for lunch. This is looking like a great Friday! Atzaro Beach is enjoying its first season and things couldn’t have gone any better for the latest addition to the island’s entertainment landscape. It has quickly captured the hearts of locals and tourists, offering a variety of amazing experiences on one of the north of the island’s stunning beaches. The weather has not been playing ball the last day or two but the choppy nature of the sea makes for a dramatic view from our table at the edge of the Atzaro Beach restaurant on the top of the small cliff overlooking Cala Nova.
The menu is varied and surprisingly well priced, given the quality of the surroundings that we find ourselves in, starters ordered – rocket salad with marinated salmon, nori seaweed, lime and feta cheese, tomato, fresh spinach salad, parmesan, sunflower seeds and raisons dressed with virgin olive oil, beef carpaccio with parmesan and rocket salad and steamed mussels – it’s time to have a wander around the cool venue. As well as offering an exciting dining option day and night, there is a massage area at the side of Atzaro beach for those of you who want to get rid of any stress or just help with relaxation. On the alternative side there is a line of comfortable cabanas, the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy some delicious cocktails and in front of the venue there are beds and luxury seats where you can catch up with friends and enjoy one of the finest views on the island. The food arrives and in keeping with the Atzaro tradition it both looks and tastes amazing.
We allow a bit of time for our starters to digest before we attempt our main courses – chicken and prawn wok and noodles, roast farm chicken with apple and herbs from Ibiza, grilled veal entrecote with potatoes gratin and sautéed vegetables and the grilled beef sirloin steak with truffle paramentier – the staff are busy putting up bunting and flags for tonight’s 1971 closing party. Jade Jagger’s 1971 party has occupied the Friday night in August, bringing some of her celebrity DJ friends to the beach, creating some unforgettable parties and delivering many amazing performances along the way, the mind wanders to the Groove Armada / Horse Meat Disco party from a fortnight ago and plans start to formulate on the possibility of an Atzaro hat trick! Thoughts of the evening are put to the one side when the main course arrives and the chat stops, everyone keen to concentrate on their food choices. For me, the grilled veal is cooked exactly how I asked and tastes delicious. The potatoes gratin and sautéed vegetables provide the perfect companions for the veal.
Normally, when undertaking a lunchtime invitation, we would steer clear of the desserts but on a quick survey of the menu it is too difficult to walk away just yet. Temptation gets the better of us and it’s not long before the colourful collection of desserts are winging their way to our table – Pineapple carpaccio with cardamom and coconut ice cream, yogurt soup with fresh mint strawberry or lime sorbet, homemade cheesecake and chocolate ‘coulant’ with vanilla ice cream. The choice to ignore the waistline and power through a third course turns out to be a wise one indeed as each dessert is more delicious than the last! A burst of colour and flavour that brings a fitting end to an enjoyable afternoon. As we polish off the last of the rose wine, the conversation turns back to 1971 and concrete plans are made to return to Cala Nova for the closing party later tonight, never mind casual Friday or dress down Friday or the popular Danish lager that claims to deliver the perfect day – Atzaro Fridays is the way forward!
Atzaro Beach Reservations:
t: +34 971 078 228