North American chef, Jeff Harter, has lived in Mallorca for the past 19 years. He is originally from Boulder, Colorado and his skills range from first-class cooking to extreme skiing, marathon running, rock climbing, surfing ... you name it. But he is a champion when it comes to being in the kitchen and works all over Europe as a private chef - he has just spent a month in Switzerland where when he was not in the kitchen, he was on the piste.
Jeff, who trained at Adria’s renowned El Bulli restaurant, is not only passionate about Mallorcan and Spanish food but also healthy, fresh and seasonal eating. He specialises in plant-based Mediterranean cuisine and lifestyle on the island with a focus on sustainable, organic and local ingredients. He advocates a diet rich in a wide variety of organic, nutrient rich foods that provide the human body with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, proteins and fibre.
What about the Constitution?
And he loves nothing more than exploring and experimenting with the natural ingredients Mallorca has to offer. He is also a very proud American. “If China invaded the States tomorrow, I’d be back defending my country,” he said, “but right now, I’m ashamed and embarrassed by what Trump is doing bombing Iran.
“I have to admit I was a little surprised when the attack was launched. I know it had been talked about for weeks but I didn’t expect it to happen so quick. Furthermore, Trump went ahead without first consulting Congress, he does what the hell he wants. What about the Constitution?” Jeff said. “He does exactly what he wants and when he wants. Is this supposed to be some distraction from the Epstein files?
“Ok, there is the Iranian nuclear weapon argument, but where is the evidence and what is the real objective; why continue? They’ve killed the leaders so what now? Will there be a new government in Iran? If so, stop the bombing and talk to them. This can’t continue, we don’t need another Iraq or Afghanistan. That said, Trump appears unable to learn from the past, nor do the Americans who support him. There were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So let’s see some evidence because schools are being bombed, it’s terrible,” he said. “Like I said, for the right reasons I would protect my country. I’m a proud American, but not with Trump in charge.
ICE
“There’s so much going wrong back in the States. All this ICE stuff, it’s unheard of. Obama managed to get rid of some three million illegal immigrants but nothing is ever said about that, and he managed to do it responsibly. He didn’t take drastic action, but he’s given no credit. I remember when I started working in kitchens in New York City. I was washing up surrounded by Mexicans who worked round the clock with no complaints. All they wanted was a better life and were prepared to do whatever work it took to achieve that for them and their families.
“If I wasn’t working kitchens, I was on construction sites during the summers moving dirt or whatever I was told to do, and most of my colleagues were immigrants. They were doing jobs that most Americans would not do and that was then; the situation is even worse now. Today, kids in America don’t want to wait tables, work in bars or on construction sites. So who does Trump think is going to do all these jobs, jobs which are the foundations of economies and societies?
“Invading Iran was a mistake and on most US TV stations Israel is not mentioned; it’s all about US strikes, planes and warships. I just hope it ends soon and there is an end game, a plan to move forward in the region and we can get back to solving Ukraine, for example,” Jeff said. “And this is a guy who not only wants the Nobel Peace Prize but also campaigned on a no foreign war ticket,” he added.
“But some 40 percent of Americans still support Trump. That’s like 120 million people; it’s mind-boggling. The guy is a warmonger who doesn’t agree with freedom of speech, whatever he claims, and people still don’t see it. Maybe it’s a lack of education or the fact half of Americans don’t have a passport and have never travelled abroad never mind out of their state.
Tarrifs
“As a result of tariffs, inflation has risen along with the cost of living. The economy is struggling, unemployment is rising, tension is high as a result of ICE. This is why the mid-term elections are extremely important. I’m convinced that the Democrats will win but there are rumours and fear that ICE squads are going to be deployed all over the blue states to polling stations to intimidate voters.
“For that reason my wife and I are going to be travelling back to the States to physically cast our votes. Last time around we used the absentee postal vote and did so well in advance to make sure our votes would arrive on time. They did, but we know they were cancelled; they weren’t counted, so we’re flying back to vote this time. That’s how important it is to use one’s right to vote,” Jeff stressed.
“Now, more than ever, it’s going to be an expensive vote but it’s going to be worth it,” he added. “Obviously we’ll catch up with friends and family and that could be interesting. The Vietnam War went on far too long in order to keep big American companies in business; war makes money. My stepmother, for example, ran a company which made buckles for uniforms and backpacks and she had a government contract. It was good for business so she was pro-war. My brother voted for Trump on the grounds that he was anti-war. He believed it, but it’s not true and I know, even though he will not admit it, he realises he made a mistake, so I’m sure we’ll have a lot to discuss come November,” Jeff said.
More Americans to Mallorca
In the meantime he said that he can see even more North Americans coming to Europe and places like Mallorca. “Over the past year or so, I’ve seen the community grow here on the island and I bump into many more than I used to. Mallorca is safe and security is, ironically, very important for most Americans, plus there’s the great lifestyle. I guess we’ll see more Americans who have either made their money moving to Mallorca and other parts of Europe or those who in this day and age can work from anywhere in the world.
“How this war will affect tourism we’ll have to wait and see. I guess it depends on how long it drags out and if there are going to be boots on the ground. But from an American perspective, after Iraq and Afghanistan, I don’t think many people have the stomach to see bodies bags arriving home again,” Jeff said. In the United States, except for the indigenous people, we are all foreigners. I’m saddened by the image we are projecting to the world,” he added. “And talking to my American friends here on the island, many feel the same.”