The six-stop tour, which will demonstrate the excellence of Portuguese cuisine, started in April at Il Gallo d'Oro, the exclusive gourmet restaurant of the Cliff Bay Hotel, Funchal on the island of Madeira. In the far south of the country, the Algarve has just hosted the second event at the elegant Ocean restaurant at Vila Vita Parc. Still to come on this trail of stars across Portugal are Coimbra, Amarante, Albufeira and Cascais, and since that final date doesn't fall due until November, there's still time to get in on the act.
For the upcoming events, masterchefs Albano Lourenço, Vincent Farges, Vitor Matos, Hans Neuner and Dieter Koschina – all of them skilled professionals from that elite group recognised by the Michelin Guide – promise an exceptional dining experience. At each event, the host chef welcomes two colleagues, themselves holders of Michelin stars, to jointly prepare a tasting menu incorporating some of the dishes honoured in the prestigious guide while celebrating the wealth of flavours and produce typical of each region.
Next up is Coimbra, on June 22nd and 23rd June, at the Arcadas de Capela restaurant of the charming historical Quinta das Lagrimas, where executive chef Albano Lourenço will be creating exquisite seasonal dishes with the freshest local produce.
In July, the trail leads north: on the 8th and 9th it's the turn of Largo do Paço, the restaurant at Casa da Calçada, a boutique hotel located in a sixteenth century building in Amarante. Once the summer's over, the star trail gets back on track, returning to the Algarve on the 28th October, to Vila Joya, Portugal's only restaurant with two Michelin stars, where Dieter Koschina serves the most exquisite dishes created with the finest natural ingredients of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
The final date on the Michelin star trail is scheduled for 18th and 19th of November at the Fortaleza do Guincho, set above Guincho beach and with the green hills of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park as a backdrop. Here, chef Vincent Farges creates fine dishes from Portuguese ingredients, but with the clear influence of French haute cuisine.
The highest quality local ingredients prepared by Portugal's finest chefs at some of the country's most luxurious restaurants: it's an irresistible combination for those who appreciate the finer things in life.