As a self-confessed foodie/glutton (you can decide which by the end of this article) I am often asked what my favourite world cuisine is.

The answer is easy – the food of Spain. The only foreign language I speak is Spanish menu. I really know my arroz from my bacalao.

So it was with some trepidation that my (equally greedy) travel buddy Abigail and I headed to a seaside hotel in Gran Canaria.

Neither of us had been to the Canaries before and our inner food snobs were having visions of vast luke-warm buffets and everything with chips.

Imagine our delight when we arrived at the Seaside Palm Beach in Maspalomas just in time for dinner (funny that) and were ushered to a table on the terrace under palm trees near the pool and handed set menus.

Relax in the lovely pool at the Seaside Palm Beach in Maspalomas

There was a mouth-watering choice of starters and mains and bits in between.

We each chose different dishes so as to try them all – there was delicately stuffed aubergines, smoked salmon with avocado dressing, sea bass with lentils and artichokes, slivers of rare beef with peppercorn sauce.

And then on to the dessert trolley, heaving with pretty-as-a-picture rows of little pots of crème brulee, chocolate mousse, mini pastries, fruit tartlets and bite-sized meringues.

Not a chip or hot lamp in sight. We were happy bunnies.

Mouthwatering food at the Seaside Palm Beach, Maspalomas (
Image:
travelpr.co.uk)

The hotel is an interesting mix of 70s architecture with modern décor.

The 328 rooms are retro, bright and fun. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at the indoor Seventies-themed Bar Salon, and enjoy all-day snacks or a nightcap at the poolside African Bar.

There are two other restaurants on site that serve up even more gastronomic delights.

Indulge in your favourite foods at the Seaside Palm Beach

Speaking of which, breakfast is – in a word – spectacular; I stopped counting at 20 different breads and rolls.

Lavish platters of cured Spanish meats (which I could cheerfully live on), smoked meats and fish, every cheese imaginable, cereal, pots of jams and preserves, bowls of yoghurt, fruit – whole, sliced and diced – pastries, fresh juices and smoothies, omelette, pancake and waffle stations. Sizzling bacon, eggs cooked to order. Magnificent.

Stroll along the lovely promenade in Maspalomas

It was all we could do to stagger into the luxurious spa for a bit of pampering – alongside the usual massages and beauty therapies, there are unusual treatments like Nepalese singing bowls, ozone therapy, Rasul baths and thalasso pools.

There’s also a fitness centre, which you won’t be surprised to learn we did not visit.

Maspalomas, on the south coast, is a lovely resort right next to the famous sand dunes of the same name. Our room overlooked the sandy golden beach, and it was a short walk to the lighthouse the marks the start of a palm-treed promenade along the seafront.

It’s lined with smart, low-rise hotels, tourist shops (the aloe vera products are amazing) and fabulous tapas bars (just in case you didn’t take full advantage of the breakfast feast).

Indulge in heavenly Spanish tapas in Gran Canaria

We spent our first few days eating (obvs), lazing by the pool working our way through the “gin & tonic selection” menu, or lolling on the beach contemplating our next meal.

But our hire car was getting bored, so we took it for a spin up the mountains to explore the interior.

We drove up twisting, winding roads, stopping in white-washed villages for cold drinks and the local specialty, papas arrugadas – delicious wrinkly potatoes with red chilli garlic sauce, mojo rojo.

Spanish food is the best in the world

We also spent a fantastic day aboard the Aphrodite sailing boat.

The lovely wooden Turkish gulet casts off from Puerto Rico, half an hour away, for a fun day sailing – as well as eating and drinking, of course – along the coast.

When we dropped anchor off Guigui Beach for a swim, we had our pick of watersports – banana boats, jetskis, parasailing… they take you off to do activities before depositing you safely back on Aphrodite.

We decided to give parasailing a try and, despite our doubts that the contraption would manage to lift these Two Fat Ladies into the air, we whooshed up with ease for great views over the ocean and coastline.

Enjoy a boat trip around the coast on board Aphrodite, Gran Canaria, Spain (
Image:
Getty)

After all this (very strenuous) activity, we were delighted to return to the hotel to discover barbecue night was in full swing. And we’re not talking burned bangers and bad burgers here.

Succulent ribs, haunches of beef, racks of lamb, juicy chicken and whole duck, prawns and crayfish, steaks and fish cooked to order over flaming grills, and served with all manner of salads and accompaniments.

We went for the sunshine, but we stayed for the food.

How to have a foodie trip to Gran Canaria

WHEN TO GO: Perfect for year-round sunshine... but particularly good for an escape from our gloom in winter.

BOOK IT: Thomas Cook has seven nights on half-board at the four-star Seaside Palm Beach Hotel in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, from £940pp, including transfers. Fly from Manchester or Gatwick on May 14.

For a change of scenery, the hotel has a “cross-dining” programme, which enables guests to enjoy dinner at the neighbouring five-star sister hotel, the Seaside Grand Hotel Residencia.

DON'T MISS: Aphrodite boat cruise. From €69pp. Includes a delicious lunch, tasty snacks, wine, beer and soft drinks. For more information, visit canaryboattrips.com.

TOP TIP: The island’s locally grown and made aloe vera products are fabulous.

MORE INFO: You can find more tourist information at spain.info.