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Cataplana

Cataplana sea food dish.

fishing boats

fishing boats in the Algarve

Cataplana

Beach in Algarve view to Africa.

Portugal is a very popular destination for so many people. Perhaps we are jaded by the talents of the chefs in France, Switzerland and Italy, but we did not find overall in our travels from the middle of the land south that there was much in the way of cuisine that appealed to us.

The one notable exception was the "Four Seasons" restaurant near Lisbon in the Estoril. There are other fine establishments in Portugal which we have yet to visit and which I am sure will render wonderful experiences, but overall, we found the food to be horribly overcooked, so salty as to pickle our innards and fizz our taste buds.

Fortunately this was made up for by the relaxed charm of the population in every spot of the country

except on their roads where they grew horns and tails and spouted fire from their nostrils.

The much touted Algarve may have superb weather, but the authentic villages with their earth colored stucco has been transformed into a quasi Costa del Sol with the same developers who have paineted everything white and brought in a version of moorish architecture that they feel with appeal to the Northerners wanting to bake of the beach, turn beet red, blister, tempt melanoma fates and return home with bleary tales of vacations filled with sun and cheap red wine.

There are some notable exceptions to this sad modern tale, one of which we have covered for you. So please click above to see our featured spots.

Southern Regions of Portugal - The Algarve

Click here to go to our Algarve Pages

Center of Portugal

Escargot Photo

Hotel De Cartuxa***, Evora

New hotel in 1999 and a charming, clean establishment it is. Rooms are spare furnished in pine with teracota tile floors and marble bathrooms. Very good breakfast buffet.
Restaurant.

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Palacio Estoril Hotel*****, Estoril, near Lisbon

Old world majestic hotel once the center of the allied intellegence services in WWII. This fine traditional hotel has had a recent interior facelift and upgrade since we were there vastly improving its ambience and comfort. Rooms comfortable and very central to both the casino and the beaches just across the road.

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"The Four Season Restaurant" in the Palacio Estoril Hotel.

Orlando Esteves, Executive chef, has turned this former hotel restaurant into an independant, world class restaurant. With his many years experience in England, he has removed the high salt content from Portugese dishes and has produced a menu that has something excellent for every taste and renditions of Portuguese recipes that will make you want to try more.
Three Chef Rating.

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No copying, reuse or partial reproduction permitted without written permission by the authors, Peter and Linda D'Aprix.

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