La Vieja de Jonay Hernández, Palma
2019, Sep 30th
‘New Canarian’ cuisine from chef/owner Jonay Hernández is on the menu at this cool eatery in Palma’s Sa Gerreria district…
Canarian cuisine with creative modern touches awaits you at La Vieja de Jonay Hernández – located in the increasingly trendy Plaça de Raimundo Clar, in the regenerated area of Sa Gerreria, in Palma.
Chef/owner Jonay Hernández opened La Vieja last year but he’s been a restaurateur on the island for more than a decade. His other restaurant – Flor de Sal in Camp de Mar – serves Mediterranean cuisine.
Jonay is from Tenerife and opened La Vieja to offer his creative modern take on Canarian cuisine. A visitor from Tenerife, who was next to me eating at the bar, described Jonay’s cuisine as ‘New Canarian’.
La Vieja is an informal place to eat, with a vibrant ambience. It attracts a lot of locals, as well as visitors who discover this less-touristic part of the city. One wall bears a colourful street-art-style painting of an octopus; other walls are white-painted exposed breezeblock. Seating is at tables indoors and on the front terrace, facing the square, but I chose to sit at the bar, watching the culinary action by Jonay and his team in the open kitchen in front of me. There’s a Kamado grill here too.
The menu offers single-serving dishes, tapas for sharing, raw dishes, desserts and mini-desserts. Eating at La Vieja is a chance to discover the unique culinary elements of the Canaries – including mojo, gofio, la ropa vieja, papas arrugadas (the delicious wrinkled new potatoes I remember from a holiday in Tenerife), and arepas.
Sharing plates for two range in price from 7,50€ to 28€ for roast shoulder of kid with salmorejo, sweet-potato purée and roast lettuce hearts – but the majority of the sharing plates cost less than 15 €.
Much of Canarian cuisine is free of gluten and most of the dishes on the menu at La Vieja are suitable for coeliacs – and clearly marked as such. They also offer gluten-free bread.
Save room for dessert: The Incredible Hulk is the one you’ll remember for its unique presentation; another – comprising banana, tequila, biscuit and pineapple – is La Vieja’s solidarity dessert, in collaboration with the Shambhala Foundation, supporting disadvantaged young people in Mallorca.
Eating at La Vieja de Jonay Hernández is a unique, fun, and tasty experience. The place deserves its popularity, which means you should book in advance to eat here.
Photos: Jan Edwards
Prices correct at time of writing.