Things to do Algarve - May 08

May 4, 2008

May has arrived! This is the month Mother nature makes the Algarve glow, with beautiful sunshine and incredibly warm days, so it’s time to say goodbye to the chilly days and bring on the heat!

(credit: Nuno Barreto)

It’s also the month we start seeing a lot of pale hibernating bodies (locals and tourists alike) popping up on the beach, and soaking up the sun. If you like to relax on the beach don’t forget a good sun screen with UVA and UVB, the sun is very strong here in the south, so make sure you’re armed with some good stuff, to get you that golden tan, safely. Then get out side, there are soo many beaches to choose from. This year we started with Praia da Faro, Tavira Island and Praia da Rocha, in Portimao.

May also arrives with a variety of festivals, sporting and cultural events, so spring is ramping up quick with lot’s of things to see and do. To find out what to do in the Algarve in May, you don’t have to look too far, as you can view the entire month’s guide, courtesy of the Algarve Tourism board - click here to download the Algarve May Guide.

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Caracóis - Portuguese Snails

May 2, 2008

The French call them Escargot, we call them Caracóis - they’re not the same type of snail, nor do we bathe them in butter like the French, but they’re equally delicious, and right now they’re available in restaurants across the country.

I’m pretty sure every culture around the globe has some sort of food that makes some folks cringe, and snails might just be one of those. But rest assured there’s a ‘process’ to get these slippery fellows ready for the pot. Here in the Algarve and likely around the country, snails undergo a ‘drying process’ which means keeping them in burlap bags with herbs for approximately 15 days, only then are they properly dry and ready to eat.

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Sushi Ya Restaurant

April 24, 2008

When we first moved to the Algarve, there wasn’t a Japanese restaurant in sight. This was a sad thought for sushi lovers like us, so we resigned ourselves to making it at home. Then one day while driving through downtown Faro, we spotted what appeared to be a mirage….a small, new van with the words SUSHI written on the side….could it be?!

Since we were in an one-way lane, we needed to circle back to get more information off the van. Excited to find where fresh sushi was hiding, we made a quick turn, and headed back…only to discover, it was gone!… :o(

Feeling a bit like we just lost our family pet, Moses and I returned home, and tried to forget how close we came to having sushi that day. Knowing it was “somewhere” near by, we asked around every chance we got. Then finally, a friend who also happens to love sushi directed us to where we could find it!

Feeling a bit like kids at Christmas, we planned a dinner and even took an uninitiated soul with us. On arrival, we couldn’t believe this place had been under our nose the entire time, “Sushi Ya”. We had driven on a crossing street to the restaurant dozens of times, but now we were here and excited to try sushi in the Algarve.

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Quinta da Esperanca - Alentejo Wine

April 18, 2008

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with wines from the Alentejo right now. There are so many of them; I couldn’t possibly keep up unless I developed a habit. Plus, most of the time, my palette just fancies trying different regions, and considering Portugal is full of wine regions, its hardly a problem satisfying a promiscuous pallet.

On a way out to dinner at a friends, we thought to pick up a nice bottle of red, unsure of what would be served it was a a bit of a gamble, so when we came across a bottled decked out with metals resembling a decorated soldiers uniform, we thought we were in good hands.

When time came to serve this highly awarded red, we were excited to see what the fuss was all about. But on trying the wine, the look on the faces at dinner said something else….no one seemed impressed…what? Hummm, not the reaction we expected or hoped for - the wine was flat, and dare I say, chalky. Feeling let down, we went on with dinner anyway, then about 3/4 of the way through, we all noticed something…the WINE! Bold, rich, fruity and distinctive….that’s what the fuss was all about, this sleeping beauty needed to breath! Should have known better, especially with a 2004, we could have decanted Quinta da Esperanca well before, and had a wonderful wine right from the start. Note for next time.

If you’ve got a meaty, tomato or herb rich meal, or some great cheeses give this bottle a try. But remember to decant it, and give it lots of surface area to breath before serving, taking the cork out won’t do it justice, it needs room to breath. Saude!

Quinta da Esperanca 2004
Region: Alentejo (see photos on flickr)

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Pasteis de Bacalhau - Portuguese Codfish Cakes

April 16, 2008

For some reason, I have an image imprinted on my mind that Pasteis de Bacalhau are the perfect snack - appetizer, tapa, picknick food, and all around great fast bite. I’m also discovering, I don’t make them often enough.

With summer around the corner, I’m thinking this is going to be a recipe I’ll be making much more often. One batch of these little guys goes far; well depending on how many hungry bellies are hanging around. When I make them to have at home, they last for a couple of days and are great pulled apart and added to a salad or filling for a sandwich…but best of all they’re good hot or cold. But my favorite is hot out of the fryer and lightly dipped in a nice aioli. I know aioli is Italian and not Portuguese, but hey my forefathers navigated around the globe bringing back spices, herbs and all sorts of foreign influences…why not do the same today? Sometimes mixing things up can produce some delicious results!

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Porca de Murça - Douro Tinto 2005

April 11, 2008

Some days picking out a wine takes a lot of contemplation, other times its a quick grab, and hope for the best. Recently, with guest about to arrive and no time to prepare, I made a quick dash to the new and very hip Pingo Doce supermarket, in Faro - my mission, wine and cheese!