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Portugal Gastronomic Weekend

Bailliage of Algarve, Portugal
Vila Nova de Cacela & Cabanas de Tavira, October 16-17, 2021

Luxury gourmet memories
" An extraordinary experience, to be repeated, but maybe on a smaller scale "

A gourmet weekend in the eastern Algarve started on Saturday, October 16th with a Michelin-starred dinner in the “Vistas” restaurant at the Monte Rei Golf and Country Club near the Spanish border. Members and their guests enjoyed a welcome drink offered by Salvador de Lucena, the Resort’s General Manager and long-time member of the Chaîne, whilst watching a beautiful sunset on the terrace of the restaurant.

Chef Rui Silvestre had prepared a true Michelin feast mixing traditional and modern Portuguese cuisine with the freshest ingredients from baby vegetables to oyster and toro tuna, to a remarkable John Dory and some Iberian lamb fillet. All was carefully complemented by a selection of Portuguese wines chosen by Sommelier Nuno Pires. A memorable dinner in a memorable setting!

The night was spent in luxury villas of the Monte Rei Resort. Some participants even found an appetite for a big breakfast served at the Resort’s golf club.

On Sunday morning, some chose to hit a few golf balls whilst others went strolling along the lovely beaches of Cacela Velha and Cabanas de Tavira or shopping in nearby Spain. Everybody promptly re-joined for lunch at Noélia & Jeronimo’s restaurant in Cabanas de Tavira.

Chef of the Year for the 2021 edition of “Boa Cama, Boa Mesa” magazine, the bible of Portuguese restaurants, “Noélia’s” as it is usually known is always full and near impossible to book, so this was to be a very special and long-awaited lunch.

The Chef of Chefs, as Noélia is known, did not disappoint! She amazed us with an incredible array of the freshest fish and shellfish straight from the local market. Treated with the greatest respect to the product, being a tempura of gambas with spicy mango or a ceviche of Dourada, or a dish of rice and red local prawns (carabinheiros) with baby asparagus.

Seven courses later, all well-watered fortunately with a “Manoella” white wine, the meal finished on a killer almond and chocolate cake. We could hardly stand up after that!

An extraordinary experience, to be repeated, but maybe on a smaller scale.

Another great weekend with the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs came to a successful conclusion!

Dr Jean Ferran
Chargé de Missions (who acts as Bailli of Algarve)

Vicenza, September 20, 2023

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