Food Made With Amore At Sir Rocco

Proudly claiming the title of Ibiza’s longest stretch of sand, Playa d’en Bossa is not shy of a seaside dining option or two. But for those days when you crave the unrivalled flavours of Italian cuisine and fresh seafood, there’s only one place to go: the stylish Sir Rocco Ibiza Beach Club. Part of the renowned Ushuaïa Group’s portfolio, the bright and airy venue combines modern design with mouth-watering Mediterranean fare and, of course, fantastic views onto the lively beach and glittering sea.

We dropped in for a relaxed lunch with friends and a ravenous appetite that demanded to be sated – and we were not disappointed. A first culinary surprise came in the shape of a cold lentil salad served alongside a basket of soft bread bursting with nuts and dried fruit, a traditional Italian holiday dish welcoming diners instead of the more common pan y aioli.

Following the recommendation of the friendly and attentive Sir Rocco team, we also shared the venue’s signature appetiser while we waited for our starters, a crispy baked pizza-style focaccia bread filled with Iberian ham, gooey mozzarella and truffle slices, with a few extra sprinkles of the luxury mushroom added on top. As you can probably deduct from the description of ingredients alone, it was heaven on a plate, an indulgent and immensely satisfying combination of cheese and carbs we will be dreaming about for a long time.

While we enjoyed the views on Formentera and Ibiza Town in the distance, our actual starters arrived: a huge plate of burrata salad and a light salmon tartar. We can never resist the creamy goodness of a burrata cheese, and this one was huge, perfectly seasoned and addictively gooey. Served on a bed of huge ripe tomato slices, and topped with fresh basil and oregano, it brought the aromas of Italy to life. Meanwhile, the salmon tartar offered a healthy alternative that was delicately flavoured with hints of citrus and accompanied by chunky avocado salsa and slices of Sir Rocco’s signature bread.

As the saying goes, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’… and so we thought it would be rude not to indulge in some delicious Italian pasta. The linguine al frutti di mare came presented wrapped in a steaming paper parcel before unfolding into colourful plate of perfectly al dente noodles topped with squid rings, mussels, clams, crab and prawns. The fruity tomato sauce was given a nice kick with the help of chilli, while the seafood burst with flavoursome juices. We also couldn’t resist a traditional Fregola pasta imported from Cerdena in Italy, packed with fresh clams and authentic Taggiaso olives. Testament to the attention to detail that goes into each dish, the flavours of the sea were enhanced by dried fish eggs that had been grated over the dish, a savoury addition that gave the plate an extra edge.

Last but not least, as the carb lovers that we are we swooned over the perfect creamy truffle risotto, cooked so the grains retain a crunchy bite and utterly luscious in its savoury parmesan flavour. Generously topped with fresh truffle, it was luxury indulgence on a plate – and one we won’t forget in a hurry. Making the most of the fresh island produce on offer, a deliciously delicate sea bass fillet accompanied by juicy clams and a subtly balanced champagne sauce, as well as a fluffy mash of potatoes and crunchy vegetables, completed our meal.

Unsurprisingly, we were starting to feel rather full at this point, so we opted for two light desserts to share in a bid to make the afternoon last just a little bit longer. A bitter sweet tiramisu foam was the perfect postre after the rich meal that had come before, as it was light and fluffy while giving us a much needed caffeine injection to stave off a food coma! Never knowingly able to resist the calling of our sweet tooth, we also tucked into a generous slice of chocolate cake, which wowed us with its crunchy base, creamy middle and a saucy dark layer on top. With the sun beaming down on Sir Rocco, we couldn’t help but eyeing up the sun loungers and sparkling waters that were tempting us just a few steps away. Like we said, when in Rome…

Information & Reservations
w: www.sirroccobeachclub.com