Esther restaurant head chef Sean Connolly has crafted a special menu that traverses the Mediterranean region, spotlighting locations like Amalfi, St Tropez, Ayia Napa, Marrakesh, Mykonos and Ibiza. Sean tells us why he finds a bounty of inspiration in the area, and shares his favourite spots and expert tips for a sublime holiday.
The Mediterranean is a mosaic of flavours, different cuisines, a warm, sunny climate and cultural richness that makes it such a fascinating and exciting part of the world. When choosing destinations for Food of the Sun, I looked at celebrating the diversity of flavours we could showcase, painting a picture of places situated on stunning coastlines, and I thought of every place I’d like to go and party!
![Sean Connolly opens up about his travels in the Mediterranean.](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/JC3Y5M6JM5H2JBVOLYKG5ZZ35Y.jpg?auth=f03557e995e265e823b3d0d4fc89bc24ba4d7389ad59aa9f13c9dc16c8534841&width=16&height=24&quality=70&smart=true)
Each place is so different, but this series was all about evoking that sense of having a good time, dancing, good food and drink, and connecting through long, leisurely lunches. I wanted to capture the culture of each place through food. I wanted everyone who attends to connect with the place and feel the spirit of the destination. If they’ve never been to Mykonos, for example, I wanted to evoke the sense of coming off the beach with salty skin and drinking dry rose; or feeling the pulse of Ibiza, enjoying a late lunch that turns into night, that turns into early morning. The series mirrors the spirit of how we like to celebrate life at QT.
[Out of all the places spotlighted on Esther’s menu], Mykonos is on the top of my list – it has the ultimate party vibe, a great spirit, beautifully fresh Greek cuisine, and [the people] as a community are very welcoming spirits to everyone, regardless of where they’re from or who they are.