Gourmet Garden Party at Adelfas: Four German Top Chefs Cook Together in Santa Ponsa

Gourmet Garden Party at Adelfas: Four German Top Chefs Cook Together in Santa Ponsa

An evening of Michelin-level cuisine, lanterns and sea air

When on a late summer evening the cicadas softly chirp out in the pines and the string lights in the Adelfas garden switch on, Santa Ponsa feels for a night like a little gourmet cinema. On September 7 from 7 p.m., four German professional chefs will meet there to serve a joint menu in the relaxed garden atmosphere.

Host and driving force of the evening is Jens Bräuning, who has run the Adelfas for years and has organized such gatherings before: the first edition of this format took place four years ago, and now a new edition follows. Joining him at the stove are Bertold Siber (presented in the program as holder of two Michelin stars), Jochen Fecht and Stefan Marquard. All three bring experience from top German kitchens; Marquard is also known to a wider audience from television. German culinary connections are visible elsewhere on the island, for example during the Oktoberfest in Santa Ponsa.

This is not a stiff gala evening: the combination of open kitchen, garden, the scent of herbs and the occasional sound of waves from the nearby harbor gives the event a familiar feel. For €155 per person an aperitif is included; additional drinks are charged separately. So anyone who likes to watch professionals at work while enjoying a menu will find exactly the right mix of show and craftsmanship here.

Why is an evening like this good for Mallorca? Quite simply: such events (for example, the Autumn Gastronomy Week in Algaida) not only bring paying guests in the shoulder season, they also open the doors between international culinary craft and local producers. On a small island like this, producers, service staff and suppliers benefit when gastronomic events take place. In addition, they create impulses for young chefs who can learn how to interpret regional ingredients at a high level.

An everyday scene to match: on the short walk to the Adelfas in the early evening you hear the sighs of traffic signs, a taxi locking up here, a few voices confirming their reservation there. At the entrance the kitchen team waves, at the next table guests chat about olive oil recommendations and the newly discovered origin of a cheese. Not a stiff business event, but rather a relaxed evening among people who enjoy good food.

Concrete suggestions that could make such evenings even more valuable: closer cooperation with local bodegas for suitable wine pairings (as in VIP Pre-Christmas in Santa Ponsa), transparent listing of suppliers on the menu, and involving a junior kitchen crew from Mallorca as part of the evening. That way the money stays on the island and young talents gain stage time and experience.

Practical: Anyone who wants to take part should reserve early – places for such special evenings are limited. The price of €155 includes the aperitif; drinks are charged separately. Guests can watch the plating and thus follow the developing menu almost like a small theatrical performance, much like experiences offered by Private Chef in Mallorca: Metus Gourmet Brings Fine Dining to Your Holiday Home.

For Santa Ponsa this format is more than an event: it is a small, cozy push toward more culinary variety outside the high season. You leave the Adelfas with full plates and new ideas – perhaps for a joint menu featuring local producers next time.

If you crave warm, slightly salty evening air, lanterns overhead and excellent plates, September 7 is a date to mark in your calendar. And if you don’t go, at least you’ll miss the flavors — but not the beach evenings, which will remain for a long time.