"Goodness, meatballs!”
Miquel Montoro is a young fourteen-year-old lad from San Lorenzo del Cardezar, a village in Mallorca, and a staunch defender of local farming, oranges, and meatballs! He managed to become one of the most well-known YouTubers in the country with just three phrases.
By now, we have all likely heard the expression “Goodness, meatballs!”. Its creator, for those who did not yet know, is this young boy born into a farming family.
Miquel Montoro is now 14 years old; but it was two years ago when he posted his first video on YouTube where he spoke with a friend about the countryside. After the first video came others, such as the one pinned on the main page of his channel where he talks about how healthy and wholesome it is to eat local oranges (by Miquel’s advice, you should always eat the white part that sticks to the fruit, as that is what heals).
It wasn’t until he posted a story on his Instagram profile showing live that his mother was making meatballs (traditional meatballs from long ago).
"Goodness, meatballs! They are so good! I love them!". That was the Mallorcan’s reaction upon entering his home kitchen.
Breaking the mould of Generation Z: from the countryside to YouTube
Miquel’s unrestrained excitement at that moment and his naturalness opened the doors to virality, and now he is one of the most well-known and followed young YouTubers. A few days after his story went viral, Miquel was the star guest on Broncano on his show La Resistencia, which earned him fully recognized fame.
Miquel remains true to his countryside roots and his fondness for all things rural. He showed this at the latest edition of FIMA, the International Agricultural Machinery Fair in Zaragoza, where he was seen with his family showing support for professionals in the rural and farming sector.
While most teenagers his age are interested in following the social profiles of the most media-famous influencers, copying their poses and outfits, or carrying the latest electronic device, Miquel continues to defend his fight for local products from the land and everything related to working in the fields. His passion for this world was born almost with him, and he himself has recalled on several occasions that the first word he managed to babble was neither papa nor mama, but tractor.
It seemed unlikely that such a seemingly unfashionable topic would turn this young lad into a YouTuber known throughout Spain. But the reality has been just that, and now Miquel has more than 300,000 subscribers.
He suffered school bullying
Far from the recent popularity he has gained, the young islander suffered bullying in his childhood. At school, they teased him about his looks. At that time, his family showed themselves more united than ever, and his parents supported him by advising him to be himself and always follow his ideas and beliefs as long as they did not harm others. Miquel took good note of his parents’ wise words and proved to be a strong lad with small acts like continuing to wear his favourite cap regardless of whether he was mocked or not by others.
Meatball recipe
Miquel’s mother, a bit tired of everyone asking for the meatball recipe, decided to post a video cooking, together with her son, her meatball recipe.
A standard meatball, made with meat, egg, and bread, would be enough. However, the version Miquel prefers is a bit personalized and also includes local cheese and foie gras. Even with all the additions, and as is often the case, the secret lies in the sauce: local onion and mushrooms seasoned with a jar of peppers and tomato made by the family from Mallorca. Try making them yourself if you dare, but remember that comparisons are odious.
