Three-day event celebrating fine dining and conviviality
With Spring coming at last, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs set out for a three-day Grand Chapitre of Portugal based at Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, in Vila Nova de Cacela (Vila Real de Santo António), in the eastern Algarve.
Our Chapitre started in Castro Marim at Salmarim, a local producer of “Fleur de Sel”, where we were given a tour and a lecture on the production process, followed by a tasting that involved different qualities of salt on Oxheart tomatoes.
A convivial dinner followed, with a sampling of local delicacies such as oysters, charcuteries and razor clam rice, in a friendly informal event in the old warehouse of Salmarim overlooking the salt ponds.
Day two started with a short drive to Alcoutim, on the banks of the Guadiana that separates Portugal from Spain. Sat precariously in a small river boat, members enjoyed a glass of bubbly on the river before having lunch at local restaurant O Camané for a degustation of fish roe, fried eels and eel stew, all true delicacies of this region of Portugal.
Our evening venue took place at the luxury Monte Rei Golf & Country Club, under the management of our Confrere Grand Officier Maître Hôtelier Salvador Lucena, with a welcome cocktail, the Induction Ceremony and the Gala dinner.
The Induction Ceremony was led by Rosa Roman, the Bailli of our neighbour Spain, together with Paulo Amado, the Bailli of Portugal. Professional and amateur members mingled and enjoyed a remarkable dinner served at Vistas, which ended with some fine dancing from rock’n’roll to flamenco.
On our last day, after a late breakfast, it was time to head to the beach for a unique celebration of World Chaîne Day at restaurant Muxama on the beach at Monte Gordo. The lunch was prepared by four of our professional member Chefs working together to present a fantastic five-course meal reflecting the theme of the day, “Tastes of the World”.
A truly relaxed day by the sea featuring excellent local products and different chefs’ cultures from Angola to Russia, and south to north of Portugal.
The Chapitre came to an end at sunset with a final visit to a local festive barbecue on the beach, serving an array of meats roasted on spits on open fires in the true tradition of the Rôtisseurs, with good music and a fun atmosphere.
The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, as an International Association of Gastronomy established in over 75 countries, always welcome new enthusiastic members, amateurs and professional, 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 us by e-mail: ma@monchique.com or visit www.chainedesrotisseurs.com
By Dr. Jean Ferran, Pair de la Chaîne
