Restaurants and Businesses | FOOD
Travel Inspirations...
GISELA’ S RESTAURANTE- Vale do Lobo Conceived by Gisela Matthjis of gourmet private catering company Fine Dining In Style, serving high quality Portuguese and international cuisine. Stunning ocean views.
J DA PRAÇA- São Bartolomeu de Messines A traditional Portuguese restaurant with a bustling atmosphere, good service, great food and a surprisingly sophisticated wine list. You won’ t find a tourist in sight.
MARISCOS & PETISCOS- Tavira You’ ll go a long way to find better seafood than this in the Algarve. Friendly and unpretentious, the emphasis here is firmly on substance over style- and superb value. The sharing seafood platters are a must.
So the Algarve is just sun, sea and golf, right? Wrong. The region offers a host of ideas, activities and attractions, especially for the discerning or niche holidaymaker. Inspirations Algarve has some recommendations for you.
FOOD Where would you expect to find the only two restaurants in the whole of Portugal boasting two Michelin stars? In one of the talked-about trendy districts of Lisbon? In the old quarter of Porto? In a fabulous restored pousada in the heart of the Alentejo? Or housed in an historic building in a heritage gem such as Coimbra, Guimarães, Obidos or Evora? The answer, which may come as a surprise to some people, is in the Algarve. There’ s far more to food in the region than chicken piri-piri or, God forbid, international tourist-fare. Discover hearty, traditional rustic cuisine in the countryside, sophisticated dining in top hotels and resorts, and of course great fish and seafood along the length and breadth of the coast, usually with a stunning sea or beach view thrown in for free. Here are some of our favourite places:
A EIRA DO MEL- Vila do Bispo A traditional western Algarve farmhouse that subscribes to the Slow Food movement- the unhurried pleasure to be gained from serving good quality, freshly-cooked, and locallyproduced food. No wonder it’ s always busy.
ARTE NÁUTICA- Armacão de Pera Vila Vita Parc’ s upmarket beach restaurant with a New England coastal look- stylish but informal, with great meat from the group’ s organic farm in the Alentejo, and superb fish and seafood.
EVARISTO- Galé Tucked away in a picturesque cove, this trendy beachside restaurant works a little like a very exclusive fish market, in that you choose your fish from the counter before you sit down. Grilled squid and white sangria make a perfect combination.
OCEAN- VILA VITA PARC- Porches Vila Vita Parc’ s gourmet restaurant, with two Michelin stars awarded to super-talented Austrian chef Hans Neuner and his team. The attention to detail is perfect and the atmosphere casually elegant.
PAIXA- Vale do Lobo Scores on the‘ cool’ stakes, and makes a great place to meet, talk and enjoy superb Portuguese tapas and a fantastic range of wines- many by the glass.
RUI- Silves Despite being inland, it’ s the most famous seafood restaurant in the Algarve, and never disappoints, serving the freshest prawns, crab and lobster.
VILA JOYA- Galé A two-star Michelin restaurant and a spectacular clifftop setting add up to a sublime place for lunch. Go on, spoil yourself.
VISTAS- MONTE REI- Tavira A 19th hole with a difference- top Spanish chef Jaime Perez trained under Ferran Adria at el Bulli and produces terrific food in his fine-dining restaurant at the golf club.
70 | Summer 2012 | www. portugal-life. net |