Simply Fosh (Revisit – May 2010)
Simply Fosh, Palma – The interior decoration has retained it’s contempory concept; minimal and simple. The ambience, filled in with a variation of Latin American music and jazz. Recently, Simply Fosh published their new menu. We knew we loved it there before, plus we have a good reason for a small celebration, therefore we return for another gourmet meal.
As for the building, El Refectori centres around an olive tree with three interior and shaded sides and an open sun terrace, furnished with a cascading wall of water. The crowd starts to flow in at about eight. Most people when seated and presented the menu, went into total silence, studying the menu with serious expressions. It is not lengthy but requires decisive and conclusive choice. Handful of starters ranging from €9.00 to €23.00 (lobster dish). Main dish priced from €16.00 to €28.00 and variable pricing for fish of the day. Desserts range from €7.00 to €15.00 (cheese platter). It is obvious why I am particularly choosy 
With Marc Fosh as the head chef it is definitely a fish course for me. Marc has a strong French culinary background, perfected his seafood culinary skills in San Sebastian, Spain. The complication is my choice of which fish dish!
In response to my undecisiveness, the waiter serving us was very professional and patient but with a hint of friendly and attentive gesture when he invited us for a refill of our glass of wine (on the fourth course). How can you fault that, right?
Pre-dinner course is a Gallegan style octopus served with foam potato broth and paprika. This cold teaser course of the potato broth is frothed, but heavy, suitably merged together with the crunchiness of the octopus meat.
Menu Degustación at €58.00 for five courses. The individual dishes were smallish, but together they provide a filling meal.
Chilled almond soup with green apple sorbet and marinated salmon – delicious, light, smooth and tangy.
Terrine of duck and foie gras with mushrooms and spiced mango – very good terrine. The mango complemented it perfectly but I wished there was more mango.
Fillet of John Dory with black rice and smoked piquillo pepper alioli – fish was cooked perfectly, the black rice was al dente, as it should be.
Braised beef cheeks with apricot puree, red wine shallots and polenta – the best dish on the menu degustación. When sliced, the meat looks stringy but falls apart gracefully and taste beautiful when eaten.
Chocolate and olive oil truffle with raspberry-red pepper jelly – Compared with the previous time, I thought that the olive oil taste was slightly overpowering.
The main dish I had apart from the menu degustacion…
Hake with venere rice and boulaibaisse sauce – Presentation is full marks but this does not compromise with the taste of the fish. I love the freshness in taste of the fish. Slightly let down with the foamed boullaibaisse sauce which taste more airy than flavoursome. Venere rice was black glutinous rice which in oriental dishes are made in sweet dishes rather than savoury. Together with the cheesy crispy topping, this dish is beautifully done.
Simply Fosh is definitely a place to impress any diner. It is no doubt expensive but every minute gestures (pre-starter and pre-dessert, compliment of the house) in the dining experience is an encounter of a new combination of taste. I love the amalgamation of his bitter and sweetness in his dishes. Eye-catching presentation and charming colours but without compromising on the flavours.
Between the both of us we had the menu degustación and a main dish, bread accompanied with saffron aioli, olive oil and sea salt, half a jug of house wine and two coffees brings the bill to just under €107.00 (tips not included).
Simply Fosh
Carrer de la Missio 7A
Palma, Mallorca
07003 Balearic Islands, Spain
Tel: +34 971 720 114
www.simplyfosh.com
