Hands up who loves mayonnaise? Whether it’s a dollop on some fries or mixed with tuna in a crusty baguette, mayonnaise is pretty fantastic stuff. But if you thought that the sauce came from France, then think again. 

Menorca, Son Bou’s homeland is the island where mayonnaise was invented and any Spaniard will strongly attest this claim. The sauce is known throughout its homeland as salsa mahonesa and named after the island’s capital, Mahon. The French allegedly absconded with the recipe when the seized the port of Mahon in 1756.

The French may claim that they’ve been making the sauce since 1459, but we recommend that you try the real deal whilst in Menorca. Son Bou has plenty of local restaurants offering the local delicacy snails and mayonnaise. But if you thought the escargot were another Gallic touch, then again you’d be wrong – this elite food was first served in ancient Rome.