Credit: Pikes Restaurant
The white isle of Ibiza has been capturing the attention of travellers for decades, and it’s clear to see why. From its captivating beaches, crystal clear waters and traditional picture-perfect houses to the UNESCO heritage sites and welcoming spirit of its people, Ibiza has something that attracts travellers time and time again
.
Throughout my time visiting the island, it has become glaringly obvious that health and wellness is a priority amongst many of its communities and has cemented itself as a main focus for the majority of the island’s boutique hotels and restaurants.
Such is the case with Pikes Ibiza, which has become a world-renowned hub for wellness, gastronomy, music and much more.
Known for its famed celeb sightings — regular guests included Freddie Mercury, George Michael, Grace Jones, and Kate Moss — the boutique hotel has retained its 500-year-old rustic charm and eccentric talking points like whimsical art displays and bizarre illustrations.
The Ibizan Institution of Pikes often hosts an array of events, and I was lucky enough to attend one this past autumn where I was able to enjoy an insightful cooking class hosted by one of the hotel’s private chefs, restaurant consultant and food writer Tess Prince, alongside Gemma Phillips-Ogston; a British television chef and the mastermind behind several healthy-eating cookbooks.
Nestled into the rolling green hills of the island’s west coast, the culinary pop-up in Pamela’s (Pike's iconic pink restaurant) was a half-day retreat on healthy eating with a special focus on mushrooms — a topic that has been trending within all the health-improvement circles.
The workshop also included the participation of mushroom expert and collector Tim Spankie, who offered a seminar on his knowledge about all the amazing fungi growing specifically on the island and the benefits each one can offer. Intrigued by the numerous medicinal properties of mushrooms and hoping to learn how I could improve my immune system by eating more consciously, I went to the event with an open mind and fully ready to get stuck into the class.
Starting at 10:30 am and lasting until 3 pm, Prince and Ogston focused on the importance of slowing down and preparing for winter hibernation after summer intensity by using functional plants and mushrooms to heal you from the inside. Having healthy eating habits can instantly improve your mood and well-being, especially through the winter when our bodies and immune systems often feel more sensitive.
Perfect for those looking to take control of their health, the event showed me and the other participants the knowledge of how the immune system works, and how simply adapting your diet with new recipes can add a much-needed boost to your daily routine throughout the changing seasons.
Hearing the chefs discuss their expansive knowledge and share their delicious recipes using local seasonal products was instantly inspiring as it was exciting to see a merge of both their gastronomic visions. During the class, we enjoyed an array of dishes like cauliflower tacos with ginger salsa, delicious broths and several medicinal tonics that are super nutritious when taken as daily immunity shots.
Once the cooking class came to an end, Ogston presented the launch of The Healing Cookbook — her second published book now available online — which is perfect for those looking to learn how to keep well and supercharge the immune system using natural ingredients.
The cookbook is all about recovery and healing using plant-based recipes and wellness ideas; since purchasing the book I’ve attempted several of the recipes myself. Filled with simple and easy-to-recreate recipes, it has done wonders for my health and helps me feel instantly better.
Before the end of the event, the chefs served a family-style brunch made up of recipes from Ogston’s cookbook — a perfect teaser — using local produce to help promote the ideas made throughout the class and showcase how tasty conscious eating can be.
All in all, the event was intimate and special; a truly fantastic opportunity to learn from three experts the simple methods and ways healthy eating can improve not only our mental and physical well-being but our lifestyles overall. The event came just in time to enter the sleepy winter season and I was honoured to attend it at this legendary venue before it closed its doors until April.
If you’re reading this and you’re interested in gaining control of your well-being, or maybe even just wish to attend an event filled with like-minded people who are looking to connect and improve their way of thinking and living, then you are sure to find the wellness event for you here in Ibiza.
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