Culinary travels: Palillos y Cuchillos

Raúl and Mariana had just set off on a trip around the world with their two kids when the Coronavirus struck. Thailand was only their first stop but after a few months they returned to Mallorca because they could not travel further. So they decided to continue the journey on the menu of their new restaurant in Palma. And named it Palillos y Cuchillos, chopsticks and knifes. That’s what their mascot is equipped with. The demoni is a cross between the Mallorcan mythical creature and his Asian siblings. Fiercely sticking out his tongue, eager to relish the scrumptious food Raúl García is conjuring up in his kitchen.

The menu of Palillos y Cuchillos is inspired by the tastes, smells and colors of his travels and broad experience as a chef on the island. Whether dumplings or croquettes, what sounds like a typical Asian or Mallorcan dish is a fine combination of both kitchens. Mallorcasian, so to speak. The mushroom croquetas were made of sweet potato and the dumplings of cerdo negro. Even the soy sauce with pomegranate was a crossover. Ceviche in a creamy avocado gazpacho takes us further to Latin America. And the peppery spice of mole rojo with raspberries and white chocolate completes the culinary journey.

Raúl had been working with Marc Fosh at Misa and Fosh Lab before he opened up his first own restaurant Katarsis. How many times did we direct our cycling trips via Algaida, only to enjoy the fabulous lunch menu. With Palillos y Cuchillos he returned to Palma, now. And chose a tree-lined street in the up-and-coming barrio of Bons Aires just outside the avenidas. In the neighborhood of other popular places like Casa Maruka or La Molienda, and only a few steps from Andana.