Donna Vegana

Bites that are journeys

We take a look at the menu of Donna Vegana, which turns out to be the ticket for a journey through various culinary cultures and traditions.

Author: Aina Coll

Photographer: Travel To Zero

After enjoying the great atmosphere that prevailed on the opening day of the second edition of the Mallorca Yoga Festival, which took place on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of October at the public estate of Galatzó, we felt like having a delicious dinner at a nearby place. After reviewing our list of restaurants to discover - yes, there are still many left - we decided to head to Santa Ponça and try Donna Vegana, a proposal that caught our attention because of the colorful and cheerful dishes we saw on their social media profiles.

Upon entering the restaurant, we are greeted by an open kitchen behind an American bar, where the staff enthusiastically prepare their dishes. Shortly after, a friendly waiter escorts us to the upper floor, where we find three occupied tables with people of various ages and a picturesque decoration: many illustrations adorn the walls of the venue, and large colorful vases dress the tables, creating a lively and casual atmosphere that seems to infect the diners, who chat in a relaxed manner while enjoying their dishes.

After settling down by a window with a view of a small terrace, we take a look at the menu, which turns out to be the ticket for a journey through various culinary cultures and traditions. The first leg, the appetizers, takes us from ancient Egypt with the classic hummus to Lebanon thanks to its delicious baba ganoush. A mango ceviche transports us to Peru, and a crunchy taco combines Japanese and Mexican cuisine in a single bite. Closer to home, we find two fresh and essentially Mediterranean salads: one featuring tomatoes and another with watermelon.

With the main courses, the second stage of this delicious journey begins, inviting us to be seduced by the always spicy Thai cuisine - with a Thai basil, Thai curry, or Pad Thai - by the Middle East with a falafel wrap, and even to our beloved Italy with the essential Bolognese pasta and a fun version of mini pizzas. The final stop, naturally, takes us to Japan with four original types of sushi rolls.

We equally love traveling and gastronomy, so our mouths water at such a proposition. After thinking for a few minutes, we opt for the hummus to start and seek advice from the staff attending us: Pad Thai or the no-chicken wrap for the main course? The waiter confesses that the wrap is his favorite dish on the menu and that it's also ideal for feeling satisfied without feeling too full. Convinced, we follow his recommendation and order it.

The hummus from Donna Vegana arrives at our table accompanied by toasted pita bread triangles and topped with parsley leaves and pomegranate seeds, which provide a fresh touch without altering its predominant flavor. Its texture is light and not at all greasy, so we enjoy a more than excellent first choice.

After finishing the appetizer, we dive into the no-chicken wrap assembled with cilantro, red onion, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and pickles, marinated with yogurt and parsley sauce. Alongside the wrap, they serve us a homemade chili sauce that they warn us is very, very spicy. Indeed, its intense and vibrant red color gives it away, but we can't resist the temptation and decide to give it a try. Yes, it's powerful, but it's also the perfect complement that enhances an already delicious dish.

Having finished the journey, it's time to head back home, and we do so with a very pleasant taste in our mouths. The dishes from Donna Vegana have enchanted us with their vibrant colors and the culinary stories they convey with every bite. With recipes from here and there, without overly complex preparations but executed with great taste, this impromptu dinner turned out to be a celebration of enjoyment and life through food. A joyful, enthusiastic, and optimistic adventure that we will want to repeat.