Food For Love At FAY

As the saying goes, a happy life is made by collecting moments, not things. And if you’re looking to make extra special memories, a dinner at the stunning FAY restaurant in Cala Tarida should be at the top of your list. With its breath-taking views across the expanse of the glittering Mediterranean, beautifully decorated interiors and out-of-this-world delicious Asian cuisine, it is the place to reserve a table for a romantic meal, special celebrations like a birthday or, simply, to treat yourself because you deserve it!

Located on the rooftop of the popular Cotton Beach Club, which is famous in its own right for the grandeur of its sea vistas, going up that extra level boosts the incredible scenery of the bay and rocky cliffs below even further – a feat we didn’t think was possible until we arrived at FAY. Entering via a set of stairs within the Cotton Beach fashion boutique, which should be called the ‘stairway to foodie heaven’, as the restaurant and bar slowly reveals itself in front of your eyes it’s hard not to get overexcited, and we’re not ashamed to say we did. Held in dazzling white, with a glass panel replacing the sea-facing wall to ensure not one inch of the incredible panorama is hidden and a sunken open-air kitchen taking pride of place in the middle of the eatery, it makes for an arresting sight.

And what better way to start the evening than cheering the sunset with a refreshing cocktail? FAY’s mixology menu is imaginative with plenty of attention to detail, and the knowledgeable staff helped us to pick out a selection to suit all tastes. A classic Margarita Strawberry made with Silver tequila, fresh strawberry puree and Triple Sec was big in both size and fresh flavours, while the pretty Lychee Rose Martini surprised us with a spicy kick. The Frou-Frou, FAY’s take on the famous Bramble concoction, combined the sweetness of blackberries with the sourness of lemon and lime, making it a tangy and tasty palette teaser. And the deliciously fruity Bahama Mama was the perfect choice for those who like their drinks sweet but with a punch.

Inspired by the rich flavours and finely balanced aromas of oriental cuisines, a meal at FAY is a culinary journey that takes you to Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand and event India all over the course of one evening. For starters, we shared a bowl of crunchy edamame topped with a dusting of spicy seasoning, while the traditional pan y alioli was replaced by a basket of poppadoms and pitta bread served with hummus and mango chutney. Now, we can’t remember the last time we were wowed by a dip, but this was one such occasion. The hummus had an amazing grainy texture and smoky taste, making us go in again and again until every last morsel had been scooped up, while the chutney had a fiery note that left our mouths tingling. The ebi coconut fry king prawns were juicy and big, an interesting textural contrast to the crispy batter and complemented by a bed of sweet seaweed – make sure you order enough of this table favourite, as there will be fights over the last skewer! Another highlight was the Japanese salmon seviche served on fresh avocado cubes, which combined the most delicate, melt-in-your-mouth fish with a zesty dressing that can only be described as addictive.

In between courses, Ibiza Magic Events illusionist Jorge Robles wowed diners with baffling tricks, while the DJ provided a chilled yet uplifting soundtrack for the evening with just enough of party tip to make us contemplate going dancing after dinner. FAY is well-known for its amazing sushi offering and we couldn’t resist the crab roll, generously filled with the sweet shellfish and topped with avocado. The dish that had us all surprised was the eatery’s take on the traditional Chinese duck pancakes, replacing the poultry with sirloin strips of premium beef. Combined with the fresh cucumber, spring onion and hoisin sauce, it was a less fatty but no less delicious version of the food favourite. Another specialty of FAY’s is their excellent seafood, and our final choice was a heavenly trio of blackened sea bass topped with soft scallops and huge king prawns, and served on a bed of vegetables – such as asparagus tips, mushrooms and onion – in a Japanese sake sauce. Similar in taste to a Thai red curry, it was a light yet comforting plate that combined the best of Asian flavours and textures with the restaurant’s amazing sea fare. Washed down with a glass of the mellow Chateau Castigno, it was a foodie experience to behold.

The beauty of FAY’s menu is that while the dishes are bold in taste and outstanding in quality, they won’t weigh you down too much, allowing you to indulge in a little postre or two. A giant glass filled with the creamiest Greek yoghurt imaginable, mixed with superfood green tea powder Matcha and topped with an exotic array of fresh fruit killed the prejudice that diet-friendly options are less satisfying with its unusual flavour and luscious thick texture. On the other side of the spectrum, the caramel-infused pear Tarte Tatin made us swoon with a hint of ginger, crisp pastry base and vanilla ice cream topping and we were ready to propose marriage to head chef Evert Broer by the end of our meal. Letting the evening fade out with a bittersweet Espresso Martini while counting the stars in the night sky, pinching ourselves to make sure we were not already dreaming…

Reservations

t: +34 971 80 61 80

e: reservations@cottonbeachclub.com