Chaîne Cataplana at the Tasca do Kiko, Meia Praia

The morning started with an interesting walk from the venue through the boatyard and Marina, across the swing bridge and along the picturesque promenade to the recently refurbished municipal market of Lagos to buy the ingredients for the cataplana - the famous Algarvian fish stew. Therefore, we were all ready for our lunch!

“Tasca do Kiko” is a small restaurant tucked away in the boatyard in Meia-Praia, one of those hidden gems the residents only recommend to friends, and the cuisine and attentive service did not deceive.

Following a quick trip around the kitchen where Chef Eduardo Lopes showed us all the different types of fish already prepared in the beautiful copper cataplana pans, we sat down to a glass of sparkling wine and fresh oysters from the nearby Alvor estuary. Share dishes of tuna tataki, mackerels in escabeche, açorda de mariscos and octopus salad, all light and refreshing, preceded the cataplana which was particularly good. The meal was accompanied by a fresh white wine called “Estação” produced in the Douro region by Alves de Sousa, a nice blend of Malvasia fina, Rabigato and Viosinho.

Desserts were served on a sharing platter and included an apple crumble, ice cream, chocolate brownie and small pastéis de nata, the much-loved Portuguese custard tart. A very enjoyable and convivial lunch, with plenty of wine, was completed with a glass of port and a coffee.

Marie-Anne Ferran, the Algarve “Chargée de Mission”, thanked Chef Eduardo Lopes and manager João Machado in the name of all presents for their warm welcome.

The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, as an International Association of Gastronomy established in over 75 countries, always welcomes new enthusiastic members, amateurs and professionals, who share the same values of quality, fine dining, conviviality, the encouragement of the culinary arts and the pleasures of the table.

If you would like to know more about the Chaîne, don’t hesitate to contact the Algarve branch by e-mail: ma@monchique.com or visit www.chainedesrotisseurs.com