The Gusto by Heinz Beck restaurant, at the Conrad Algarve hotel (Quinta do Lago), is considered the revelation of the year, according to the guide “Boa Cama Boa Mesa”, released by the weekly Expresso next Saturday.
The Belcanto restaurant, in Lisbon, received the top prize, “Garfo de Platina”, from the “Boa Cama Boa Mesa” guide, which distinguishes almost 60 national hotels and restaurants.
Belcanto, which has already received a Michelin star this year, is directed by José Avillez, whom the Expresso guide distinguishes in this edition of the guide as chef of the year. The announcement was made this afternoon, at a ceremony in Lisbon.
The guide also distinguishes 25 restaurants with "Garfo de Ouro", including in this list the Michelin-star restaurants Feitoria (Lisbon), Henrique Leis (Almancil), The Yeatman and Il Gallo D'Oro (Funchal) and the two spaces with two stars, Ocean (Lagoa) and Vila Joya (Albufeira).
The best wine cellar can be found, according to the guide, at The Yeatman, a Michelin-star restaurant at the hotel with the same name, in Vila Nova de Gaia.
In the chapter dedicated to accommodation, the “Platinum Key” – top distinction – went to the Rio do Prado hotel, in Óbidos. Still in “Boa Cama”, the revelation of the year is Cooking & Nature, in Porto de Mós, while the best wine tourism is Quinta do Vallado (Peso da Régua). The best ecotourism is Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature Park (Vila Pouca de Aguiar).
25 hotels deserve the “Golden Key” distinction in this guide, which contains “over 900 suggestions for top accommodation and restaurants”.
The distinguished places are selected according to criteria such as “the presentation, the atmosphere, the service and the gastronomic quality, the location and innovation, without forgetting the offer of wines (in the restaurants) and the equipment or added value of the service (in the accommodations)”, explained the source of the Expresso to Lusa.
The guide, launched annually since 2003, is prepared on the basis of an “exhaustive list” of locations – which appear in the previous edition and those that have since been “'discovered' or inaugurated”. The spaces, which initially may be more than three times those chosen, are then ranked based on contributions “from a panel of elements from different parts of Portuguese society, who are invited to send their comments and suggestions”.
Already with a short list, a team of journalists then goes through the restaurants and accommodations referenced "to validate the information and criteria", explained the same source.
The guide “Boa Mesa Boa Cama” is launched next Saturday for 9,90 euros.
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