“Mesas de Mar”, from two restaurants in the municipality of Odemira, a Beja-style lamb stew or a horn bean stew, served with wines from Silves. Odemira, Beja and Silves are candidates for the “7 Maravilhas à Mesa” contest.
Starting with the Algarve, “Silves: Da Serra ao mar” is the name of the table with which the municipality of Silvense applies for the competition.
«The table presented intends to materialize the products, traditions and local gastronomic culture of the municipality of Silves», explains Rosa Palma, Mayor.
«We have elements referring more to the interior (Serra/Barrocal) and others referring to the coast (Sea), as it is our desire that the three geomorphological units (Serra, Barrocal and coast) appear “sitting at the table”», adds the mayor.
«In addition, Silves has excellent wines, quality products that are guided by excellence and that are the perfect accompaniment to any good dish. Therefore, we have the ideal conditions for Silves to be one of the “7 Wonders at the table”», he concludes.
Special emphasis will be given to wild boar as the most appreciated gastronomic element in the mountainous region of the territory, which is usually accompanied by red wines produced in the municipality, characterized by aromas of ripe fruit and a velvety, warm taste.
The wild boar stew, meat with a delicate and slightly exotic flavor, accompanied by a fresh and bold salad of rocket, watercress, mint and orange, will be the king of this table, «where there will also be a horn feijoada, which brings together the appreciated mollusk with a delicate maritime flavor to beans harvested and planted in the interior of the municipality», says the municipality.
«This gives an image of the southernmost sector of the county, where it is possible to taste maritime delicacies, but which also bring together elements from the interior, allowing for a harmonious symbiosis between the freshness of the coast and the cultural heritage patented in the Castle de Silves», he adds.
«In the transition between the mountains and the coast, the Barrocal stands out, where you can feel the aroma of citrus or Silves the “Capital da Orange”, providing a smooth transition along with the “fresh wines” benefiting from the clay-limestone soils that they provide nectar with greater acidity and more balanced tannins».
Hence, at this table, Laranja de Silves will also be present. To accompany these dishes, three wines were selected, which allow you to appreciate all the nuances of the proposals presented. The first is Barranco Longo Rosé 2015, where the aroma of red fruits predominates, with a creamy entry in the mouth and finished with great freshness.
The second is a 2014 Pasha Sauvignon blanc, which has a citrus color, is robust and smooth, with some body and great capacity for evolution.
Finally, there is Quinta do Francês 2015. «As the vines grow in a variety of soils such as clay, limestone, sandstone and even some areas with schist», they produce «high quality grapes», explains the municipality.
«We want Silves to be able to be present with his products, which, above all, are the hallmark of its people and their capacity for work and creation: what we eat, our gastronomy shows our sensitivity, our attentive look to nature that surrounds us, is synonymous with our frankness and capacity to be welcoming and, above all, of our ability to enjoy everything that is truly good», stresses Rosa Palma.
As for Odemira, the restaurants “Costa Alentejana”, in Zambujeira do Mar, and “Tasca do Celso”, in Vila Nova de Milfontes, are also candidates.
In a partnership between the two restaurants and the Municipality, the intention is to inscribe Odemira's name in the 7 Maravilhas à Mesa, similar to the previous participations in the 7 Maravilhas de Portugal (Natural Wonders of Portugal, The Best Beaches of Portugal and Aldeias de Portugal), which have “enabled the promotion of the territory of Odemir in a national and international context”, says the City Council.
Given the interest shown by the restaurants Tasca do Celso (Vila Nova de Milfontes) and Costa Alentejana (Zambujeira do Mar), references of local restaurants, the Municipality of Odemira entered two “Sea Tables” in the competition, in three categories, with the Tables “Boat à Mesa in Zambujeira do Mar” and “Mil Sabores no Celso”.
In the “Gastronomy” category, snacks with sea flavor, bread from the municipality of Odemira, fish and seafood dishes, as well as limousine meat were presented. In the “Wines and Olive Oils” category, the proposals include white, rosé and red wines with connection to the county and the Southwestern medronho. Finally, in the “Routes” category, the Rota Vicentina with its Fishermen's Trail was nominated.
The two restaurants in the municipality of Odemira comprise a wide range of tables from across the country that are being evaluated by a panel of experts and by the organization's Scientific Council, in order to highlight 49 tables that will become pre-finalists. This list of pre-finalists and will be known on the 7th of April.
Beja presents the “Plain Table”.
«There are few places like the plain of Beja, made of so much distance and calm. On a walk "through these fields", as the fashion sings, it is possible to find herds of sheep with their little lambs feeding on what nature gives them, making the meat and milk of excellence," he says the City Council.
The taste of sheep's cheese, certified as Serpa PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) cheese, the most famous in these plains, is the honor of entering the table.
In the gardens and farms, the purslanes are born wild, offering exquisite delicacies such as the purslane soup that we present here as a first course, accompanied by the Versátil Rosé wine. This table culminates in a Beja-style lamb stew, which, well savored, raises the spirits in the calm of the plain, the Santa Vitória Reserva Red 2015 enhances its flavour.
«This is the perfect motto to let yourself be carried away by the skies of Beja on a hot air balloon flight. The flavors of the table in the plain and the horizon of light that the view offers will be the perfect combination to relax and meditate», he concludes.
Albufeira, Lagoon, Breech (Faro) and Tavira have also submitted applications to this competition.
The “7 Maravilhas à Mesa” program is highly sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development; Secretary of State for Tourism and Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education and is developed in partnership with the Association of Portuguese Wine Municipalities (AMPV) and the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Similar Services of Portugal (AHRESP).
Organized by EIPWU, the entity holding the exclusive rights to the 7 Wonders brand, the event will have its final on September 16, where the 7 Wonders at the table will be chosen by direct vote of the Portuguese population.
This initiative aims to promote the regions, authenticity and Portuguese cuisine, reasons that contribute to the affirmation of Portugal as a reference tourist destination.
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