Ibiza is, as we all know, one of the most unique places on the planet. The most normal of days becomes a life-changing experience, soaking up the sun in this stunning paradise, which offers so much more than clubbing. No matter your age or the occasion, there’s no better place than Ibiza to celebrate it. My wife and I were lucky enough to be married on Ibiza two years ago, with the invaluable assistance of Charlie Chester and the Essential gang. They had also planned the wedding of our good friends Ro and Emma, so the four of us teamed up for a party to remember.
When it came to celebrating our anniversary, we immediately turned to the kings of Ibiza for their expertise, placing ourselves in their hands completely. And of course, they blew us away. Our stunning villa, high in the hills above Jesus, overlooking Talamanca and Ibiza town, was the perfect setting for ANY holiday – but with the added sense of occasion, it was clearly going to be a memorable break. Our day began with the arrival of chefs Simon and Lawrence from Cook Ibiza, showing up with armloads of fresh, beautiful produce and a menu, which had mouths watering for miles around. And of course, with Charile involved, the vino was a priority – so we were whisked off to Vino & Co where ebullient owner Joren greeted us with a lavish platter of nibbles and a selection of thoroughly thrilling wines. With one specifically chosen to complement each of our courses, this was a real experience to remember, and one which I thoroughly recommend to anyone. Soaking up the expertise of Joren, and enjoying the stunning selection of rare wines, we could have stayed in this supercool shop all day… but food was calling.
As we arrived back at our spectacular hillside villa, we were greeted by the insanely attractive aroma of sizzling meat and the smiling faces of Alex and Michelle from Payesa, the Beer Of Ibiza, who had accepted our invitation to join us and brought some of the delicious beer with them. Cook Ibiza’s menu included such delights as Ibizan red prawn ceviche – a truly stunning starter which will haunt me for years, such was its fresh, light, unique flavour and texture combination.
The complementary melon gazpacho with basil oil is my new favourite drink… especially when embellished with a hefty slug of vodka. Don’t tell the Mrs. This was followed by a mid-course of local rabbit with baby roast potato salad and fennel slaw. Now, I was a little funny about eating bugs bunny but have to say on this evidence, I’m with Elmer Fudd. And the fennel slaw is possibly my new favourite thing. It’s better than boobs. Next came Caribbean Jerk Chicken with Jamaican Escabeche (pickled vegetables) coconut rice and truly stellar authentic jerk gravy. Wow… Just wow. Genuinely stunning food, high end restaurant quality but with a homey twist. Finishing with an iced local orange and rosemary cheesecake – as a connoisseur of cheesecake, this was simply one of the best I’ve ever had – it was a meal to remember which made our occasion simply unforgettable.
We’ve been to some of the world’s finest restaurants, but having one come to us in our beautiful villa, with top chefs serving stellar food, was just out of this world. I can’t recommend the experience highly enough, and the important thing to remember is you CAN afford it. It’s a taste of the superstar lifestyle on an average holidaymaker’s budget. The menu we had from Cook ibiza cost just 45 euro a head. You’ll easily spend that in a pretty shoddy restaurant. With them, you relax in the comfort of your villa while they cook spectacular food for you and your guests. It really is private jet travel on Ryanair prices. Whatever your occasion, or even if you just want to treat yourself, put yourself in the capable hands of Cook Ibiza and Vino & co, (prices on request) for the REAL Ibiza VIP experience. Also, look out for Payesa beer, it is a stunning addition to the island and is making its way through the rest of Europe as we speak. Forget overpriced tables in clubs… this is how the real high rollers do it.