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From this year, the renowned Mallorcan chef, Tomeu Torrens is at the helm of the restaurant in our Can Ribera boutique hotel in the Mallorcan town of Muro. Having spent most of his life in restaurants, Torrens has now taken charge of a project he admits has got him really excited as he joins the #ZafiroTeam.
At Zafiro Hotels we are delighted that his Mallorcan cuisine full of traditional flavour combined with modern flair has found a home at the Can Ribera Restaurant by Can Amer, a name that refers back to the Can Amer family tavern where Torrens has been chef since 2004.
Would you like to know more about the passions of this fantastic chef and immerse yourself in his "culinary spa"? This is a mandatory stopover during any visit to the island if you want to get a taste of the most authentic Mallorca.
Tomeu, were you always totally clear that you wanted to be a chef?
Absolutely! I was born and grew up between ovens, pans, spoons and plates. I started washing dishes and ironing serviettes and gradually began to find a space in the kitchen. As a little boy I fell in love with cooking and the culinary arts, with showcasing our traditions and creating sensations. I have a photo of when I was just 3 years old, cooking an omelette while standing on a beer crate in the days when they were still made of wood! Cooking is in my blood. It's my passion.
We know that your mother Antonia Cantallops is also a great cook. Is she the reason you started cooking?
My mother was a dressmaker, but when my father took over the Celler Can Amer, she soon joined him. I was lucky to have a very active and self-taught mother who was in contact with some of the best chefs on the island, such as Mestre Tomeu Esteva or Toni Pinya.
My parents have been both my teachers and my inspiration.
What will we find on the menu? What is it you would like to convey with your dishes?
I am positive that the future of tourism in Mallorca will be based on offering greater quality in traditional rural destinations. And this is something that visitors can find in Muro, at the Can Ribera by Zafiro Hotel and in the restaurant. In every single one of my dishes I aim to convey this idea of Mallorcan quality in the most innovative way. We are getting better and better every day and introducing new features in our dishes to ensure our customers are never disappointed with their restaurant experience.
Is there any dish that you will always serve?
Yes indeed! In fact, two dishes come to mind: our "lamb shoulder stuffed with aubergine and sobrasada" and our "chicken stuffed with nougat". These are dishes invented by my mother, and I remember all the success they had in the 1980s, when both Mallorcans and foreigners used to come from all over the island to try the dishes prepared by my mother. It’s something I’m really proud of, remembering where we come from and our identity. I can’t allow them to be forgotten. I have always believed in our traditions and roots, and I have this in mind every day when I prepare a dish.
Always with new projects on the go, tell us why you chose the Can Ribera Restaurant by Can Amer.
I had turned down quite a few proposals similar to Can Ribera by Zafiro. But this one was different. Zafiro Hotels seemed like a family that I could really trust. They offered me a long-term project which I believe in, and I’m loving it!
What starter, main course and dessert would you personally choose from the menu of the Can Ribera Restaurant by Can Amer?
That is a really hard question to answer! Personally, whenever I go to a restaurant I let the head waiter advise me. They know better than anyone else what to offer each guest in each moment. I always say that the service is just as important as the food. It’s what makes one restaurant different from another. At Can Ribera by Can Amer we don’t have a "star dish". We offer a small selection of surprising dishes and a kind of all-inclusive culinary spa. That's our spirit.
What’s the best thing about the Can Ribera Restaurant by Can Amer? Besides being able to enjoy the restaurant if you are staying at the hotel, it’s also open to the public! So if you are on the island, then you have no excuse not to try the wonders that come out of the kitchen run by Tomeu Torrens and his team.
Telephone for bookings: (+34) 971 86 00 44
