Five Foodie Escapes from BBB
Two things we all love are delicious tastes and the chance to escape from everyday life. So here we present to you five gems of places to experience both these things. Whatever you budget, near or far, we have some great suggestions of trips to tickle those tastebuds…
First up we head to legendary hotel La Residencia in the stunning village of Deia, Mallorca. Now owned by iconic hospitality group Belmond, this incredible property is situated in glorious landscape between the Tramuntana Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. With breathtaking views, the hotel grounds abound with sweet-scented citrus trees and ancient olive groves, capturing the essence of Mallorca.
Guests can dine on sensational cuisine at the hotel’s impressive El Olivio restaurant. The separate Tasting, A La Carte and Vegetarian menus are each complimented by wine pairings made by the sommelier from award winning wines from the hotel cellar. For a more casual meal, Cafe Miro offers diners the best in regional cuisine, from mountain cheeses to paella, with a mountain backdrop and amidst the private collection of 33 original Juan Miro paintings.
There is a private dining spot, a short walk down a mountain path, with indescribable sea views and unsurpassable romance. Dining by candlelight with live guitar music and sunset vistas, this is the perfect spot for any special occasion. The hotel’s art collection, spread throughout the hotel, also acts as a guide for the ‘Art & Dine’ menu, where guests can move locations between courses, admiring the works and history of the property alongside specially crafted cocktails and food to match.
There are a handful of other world-class restaurants close by, including Es Raco d’es Teix with its impressive 7-course tasting menu and beautiful landscape setting, and Sebastian, whose excellent food and perfect service make it a favourite for many. For those on a tighter budget, the area is also full of local restaurants, cafes and shops, abundant with mountain cheeses, local olive oil, regional specialities and of course, stunning views in every direction.
Crossing back to the UK, we head to Seaside Boarding House on the beautiful Jurassic Coast. A relaxed property with a restaurant, 9 bedrooms and stunning sea views, we’re big fans. Run by an ex-manager of the Groucho Club, Seaside Boarding House offers excellent hospitality but remains welcoming and warm. The restaurant naturally specialises in the fresh seafood and local land produce on its doorstep, choosing the best ingredients to cover everything from a poached egg to a six-course banquet. In their own words, “We like a well-dressed table, but we don’t stand on any ceremony; if you want one course, three puddings, to work your way through the whole menu alphabetically or topographically, that’s fine. Our view is that dinner takes as long as you need it to.” This is exactly our kind of place and whether it’s a weekend getaway or a seaside private dining special occasion, we think you’ll love it too.
There is also an epic seafood restaurant just 5 minutes’ walk away called Hive Beach Cafe. Located right on the beach at Burton Bradstock, with panoramic views to Lyme Bay and Chesil Beach, it’s a great spot to enjoy fresh, local seafood, homemade cakes or just a cup of tea. They also have their own micro bakery, ensuring all breads and cakes are fresh and delicious!
Venturing further afield now, we head to FAENA in Miami. Voted Best Hotel in the World for the second year running by Conde Nast Traveler readers, this property is a Forbes Five Star Luxury Resort, the first hotel ever to achieve this accolade within its first year. Aside from the beautiful rooms, which you can see on the hotel website there are several exciting dining options…. Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann is an Argentine grill from the legendary chef famous for his live-fire cooking. The open-fire kitchen uses the best local ingredients and a gaucho’s touch to transform traditional rustic recipes into sophisticated, elegant dishes.
Pao by Pail Qui is an award-winning modern Asian restaurant with stunning ocean views, serving fusion cuisine with Filipino, Spanish, Japanese and French influences.
Mexico City has always been a hot destination, but for foodies, we can’t stop raving about Pujol, hailed as the best restaurant in the city. Blending classic culinary techniques with the best fresh ingredients and contemporary flavour combinations, Pujol is a must-visit (but you need to book!)
They have various dining options… There are two Tasting Menus, Corn or Sea, each with 7 courses. There is also a beautiful private dining room, suitable for 9-14 guests, also with the tasting Menu but where the main course is served family style. Then there is the impressive Taco Bar with its mouth-watering 10-course menu, each dish selected by the chef! They cater for cocktails and drinks receptions on the Terrace and offer catering services. So for business or pleasure, this is a really fantastic option. For the visually inclined, their Instagram really is a thing of wonder too!
But we can’t always travel so far, as much as we would like to – time and money restraints often mean we need to seek our joys closer to home. Therefore, our last recommendation is a casual, lesser-known gem in London. Sometimes you need even an hour’s respite, to get back to nature and nurture the soul with some delicious food. Frizzante at Hackney City Farm does all this. Styled on the typical Italian agriturismo, where the meat, vegetables, oils and wine used in the cooking are produced on the farm, this is a great example of farm to fork dining (any ingredients they can’t produce are sourced from small and local suppliers and the wine, some biodynamic, is from Italian suppliers). Locally roasted coffee, community vegetable box schemes and independent fresh fish suppliers are more of the reasons we love Frizzante.
Whether you’re after a coffee and cake, a quick lunch, Sunday Roast or a romantic dinner, they do everything. They also host private and special events with talks, themed evenings and lots more. When the buzz of the BBB phone gets too much, we also love going to visit the pigs, chickens and other farm life open to visitors. It’s great for kids too (although those looking for a quieter visit would do well to avoid weekends!). Easily accessible just off Hackney Road, it’s surprisingly quiet and really is a tonic for the stressed London soul. All details and opening times can be found here.
If you’d like to visit any of these places, drop us a line on info@thebbbook.com and we’d be happy to help.
222 Kensal Rd,
London,
W10 5BN
T: +44207 138 3556
