One of the beauties of Palma is the rich variety of bars and restaurants which abound, serving up fayre from all over the world, where every now and again you are taken by surprise. This was the case the night we visited Cuco.
Listed at No. 11 for Palma, on Trip Advisor we thought we would pop in there for a few drinks, and see what it was like. Situated on the edge of Santa Catalina, they have a huge array of cocktails and spirits, especially the current on trend Gins including Mombasa, Hendricks, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, and Brokers London Gin. plus many more. Thee come served with an unsual “golf ball” type of ice cube, flavoured with a different fruit, very trendy!!
The two partners Pepe, who has a great love of painting (which is reflected in his dishes) and Rodrigo, have an impressive C.V. They ran a very large catering company in Argentina, owned two restaurants in Madrid, and for many years have honed their skills at a famous catering school in Paris.
Having decided to stay and eat here the surprises just kept on coming. Their star waitress Lina suggested we start off with a couple of small dishes.
And so we shared a Provolone(classic round Italian cheese)heated up in the oven and served in a round clay dish, although its great wrapped in silver foil and put on the barbecue for a couple of minutes, gooey, full of flavour served with a plate of Shitake mushrooms cooked in a Soja & reduced balsamic sauce. It was absolutely delicious.
Then Rodrigo suggested we try their home made pasta and went for the Tortellini stuffed with cheese and pear, the sweetness of the pear contrasting very well with the cheese, and then the Ravioli with a pumpkin filling in a saffron sauce.
They suggested we accompany this with a very dry white wine called “Pampano” which was very crisp and dry.
Pepe said their meat is all from Argentina, which they ship over regularly and so insisted we try some. It was an outstanding fillet of (Lomo) from the part of the cow at the shoulder/back. With a reduced tempranillo wine sauce, this was a knock out dish which left us speechless.
So here is a restaurant in Palma, round the corner from Santa Catalina, 50 yards from the windmills of Calle Industia, where one can have a really great evening with family and friends and not having to worry about spending an arm and a leg .
Cuco Bar & Restaurant, Calle de Borguny, 9, 07013 Palma.
