25 tons of sweet potato variety Lyra will be sold, at 1,20 euros per kilo, at the Sweet Potato Festival of Aljezur, which will take place in the town's multipurpose pavilion, from the 28th to the 30th of November.
That variety is the only one certified with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), but due to the fame of Aljezur's sweet potato, the market has been invaded by other varieties and productions that take the opportunity to improperly use the name of that village on the Costa Vicentina.
One of the main objectives of the Festival, which is now in its eighth edition, is precisely to reinforce «the agricultural associations around this variety, the genuine one, with Protected Geographical Indication, as well as the Sweet Potato Producers Association of Aljezur» .
The Municipality of Aljezurense, which promotes the event in partnership with that association, emphasizes that the production of this tuber in the area that received the IGP is "sustainable", "contributes to the growth of the local economy" and is a "differentiating factor".
The Aljezur Sweet Potato Festival opens its doors on Friday, the 28th, but only on Saturday, at 11:30 am, will it be officially inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture Assunção Cristas.
Before going to the fair grounds, the minister will go to the Town Hall, where she will sign the municipality's Book of Honor and receive the first copy of the book "Aljezur, O Coração da Costa Vicentina", a work scheduled for public presentation in December .
But what is the visitor normal can you find at the Festival, in addition to the genuine sweet potato? Well… for starters, more sweet potatoes, but in the form of delicious dishes of the traditional gastronomy of the area – beans and sweet potatoes, pork rojões with sweet potato fries, cuttlefish with sweet potatoes, etc. – or sweets to eat and cry for more, from pastries, to cakes and pies.
In taverns and restaurants, there will also be other snacks, while at the fair you can find traditional sweets, honey, liqueurs and brandies (from medronho and not only), wine, sausages, bread, handicrafts, everything from Algarve producers, many of them from the municipality itself. . All this, accompanied by lots of music and entertainment for all ages.
A trip to the Festival in Aljezur, in addition to being a temptation, could also be an opportunity to find that original gift for the approaching Christmas.
As has been happening in recent editions, the event will not be limited to the presentation of sweet potatoes in their more traditional gastronomic forms. There will also be cooking demonstrations with chefs more or less known cuisine and tastings at the Festival's Gourmet Space.
Among these chefs, highlight for the journalist Vítor Bandarra, from TVI, who will be on Palco Cozinha showing this other art of his at 17:30 pm on Saturday.
The program (see the complete schedule below) also includes the presentation of novelties in agri-food products based on sweet potato – a liqueur from this tuber and new products from Pão do Rogil. There will also be a presentation of honey produced in the region.
To preserve and promote the tradition of using sweet potatoes in the making of sweets, the organization also promoted a competition. The idea is also to motivate the confectioners to prepare recipes that allow “to maintain the tradition and encourage the use of sweet potatoes, in order to preserve the quality and genuineness of the recipes”.
Anyone interested can participate in the contest, even non-professional sweets (and confectioners).
For this, they must submit their application, including the name of the confectioner, address and contact, as well as the name of the candy that will be presented in the competition, until tomorrow, Friday, the 28th, at the Chamber Municipal de Aljezur, Economic Development and Planning Division (former C+S School building in Aljezur), by telephone (282990010), by fax (282990019), or, simultaneously, with the delivery of the sweet, at the Festival Gourmet Space, on the day of the competition, between 12:00 and 14:00.
The contest will take place on Saturday, the 29th, at 16 pm, at the Aljezur Chamber stand, at the event.
PROGRAM
November 28th, Friday:
12h
Opening of the Festival
13h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
14h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
Children's Animation (Bubbling Ideas)
Location: next to the Kitchen Stage
15h
Sweet Potato Liquor Presentation
Talurde brandies
Location: Aljezur Municipality Stand
15h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
16h
Project presentation
PURE MOBILE vs. DOLCE VITA by Monika Fryeová
Location: next to the Kitchen Stage
17h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
19h
Chef CARLOS BAJOUCA
Location: Kitchen Stage
Musical Moment with
SaxLounge with Luís Raposo
Location: Outdoor tent
20h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
21h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
Musical Moment with Little Earth
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
22h
Musical Moment with
Jazz with Cool South trio
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
24h
Festival Closing
November 29th, Saturday:
12h
Opening of the Festival
Official Visit of the Minister of Agriculture and the Sea
Assumption Crests
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
13h
Chef JOSSARA MARTINS
(Company of Cultures)
Location: Kitchen Stage
14h
Local Cook SILVIA DE SOUSA PINTO
Location: Kitchen Stage
Children's Animation (Bubbling Ideas)
Location: next to the Kitchen Stage
15h
Chef VALTER CASTANHEIRA
(School of Hospitality and Tourism of Portimão)
Location: Kitchen Stage
16h
Musical Moment with Little Earth
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
16h
Sweet Potato Contest
Location: Aljezur Municipality Stand
17h
Chef VÍTOR BANDARRA (Journalist)
Location: Kitchen Stage
Musical Moment with Clarinet Quartet
Location: Outdoor Tent (Bar area
18h
Awarding of the “Best Decorated Stand” Award
Location: Aljezur Municipality Stand
18h
Product Presentation - Pão do Rogil
Location: Aljezur Municipality Stand
19h
DOMINGOS and MARCO ALEIXO Chefs
(Mackerel dissemination project)
Location: Kitchen Stage
19h
Musical Moment with
SaxLounge with Luís Raposo
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
19h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
20h
Chef CRISTINA AREIA (Actress)
Location: Kitchen Stage
21h
Musical Moment with Little Earth
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
22h
Musical Moment with
Jazz with Cool South trio
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
23h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
24h
Festival Closing
November 30th, Sunday:
11h
Arrival at the EMA of the 2nd Sweet Potato Route of Aljezur (MTB)
12h
Opening of the Festival
13h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
14h
Chef MIGUEL FERRO
(Chill Out Grill)
Location: Kitchen Stage
Children's Animation (Bubbling Ideas)
Location: next to the Kitchen Stage
Musical Moment with
SaxLounge with Luís Raposo
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
15h
Chef José Moura
(School of Hospitality and Tourism of Portimão)
Location: Kitchen Stage
16h
Chef CATRIN GEORGE
Location: Kitchen Stage
Musical Moment with
Jazz with Cool South trio
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
17h
Chef RICARDO MARTINS
Location: Kitchen Stage
17h
Musical Moment with
SaxLounge with Luís Raposo
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
17h
Honey Presentation
Fernando Oliveira Duarte
Location: Aljezur Municipality Stand
18h
AMELI Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
19h
Chef NUNO MARTINS
Location: Kitchen Stage
20h
Musical Moment with Little Earth
Location: Outdoor tent (Bar area)
21h
ROBOT COUPE Chef
Location: Kitchen Stage
22h
Festival Closing
Photos: Martyna Mazurek (except first and last)
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