Jan Edwards on Mallorca Restaurants, Real Reviews and Where to Eat Next

In this episode, Vicki McLeod welcomes food writer and Mallorca restaurant reviewer Jan Edwards back to the studio for a wide-ranging conversation about food, restaurants and life on the island.Jan begins with the new edition of the Chefs(in) guide, a restaurant and cocktail bar guide covering Mallorca and the Balearics, before she and Vicki dive into chef culture, why the restaurant industry can still be difficult for women, and how changing dining habits may make the industry more family-friendly in future.The conversation moves through new and notable restaurants, including El Bandarra, Selvacha, Shima at Hotel Formentor, Brusca brew pub in Manacor, Blanca Terra winery restaurant near Montuïri, Molí de Sant Rafel in Llubí and Ponderosa Beach.Jan also explains how she approaches restaurant reviews, why she usually pays for her own meals, and why honest, unannounced reviewing matters.There is also time for wine fairs, the Mallorca 312 traffic problem, Books Uncorked, literary dinners in Valldemossa, restaurant gossip, chef moves, Protur Chef, Reserva Rotana and a mention for Bhukkad Boca.It is a warm, funny and food-filled episode for anyone who enjoys eating out in Mallorca, or simply likes hearing two women talk honestly about restaurants, real life and where to find the good stuff.Suggested chapters00:00 Introduction00:20 Jan Edwards returns to the studio01:30 The new Chefs(in) guide03:50 Chef culture and restaurant associations04:40 Why are most chefs men?07:20 Lunch, dinner and changing dining habits08:55 Restaurants Jan wants to try10:45 Shima at Hotel Formentor11:30 Where to find the Chefs(in) guide12:10 Sóller restaurants and Tuesday night closures14:15 Brusca brew pub in Manacor17:30 Eating out, balance and cheese18:30 Beer tasting and flights20:00 Traffic, cyclists and the Pollença wine fair22:50 Blanca Terra winery restaurant25:00 Terra Gust and farm-to-table food27:40 Molí de Sant Rafel in Llubí28:15 The bee museum in Llubí30:00 Beef, barbecue and family restaurants32:35 Why paella is a lunchtime dish34:30 Ponderosa Beach36:10 How Jan reviews restaurants39:30 Books Uncorked41:00 Literary dinners in Valldemossa44:25 Andrés Benítez leaves Botànic46:40 Protur Chef competition51:30 Reserva Rotana53:20 Aethos Mallorca in Peguera55:00 Where to find Jan’s reviews56:00 Bhukkad Boca recommendation57:15 Closing thoughts