Cafezique opened this month in Loulé and promises to bring the experience of sharing food and wine to a whole new level in the Algarve.
Located on Loulé’s Rua das Bicas, Cafezique serves “petiscos” – the Portuguese word for a smaller version of a dish – paired with a comprehensive selection of wines from all over Portugal.
With a capacity for 45 people, the eatery boasts an outdoor terrace with bar service and a rooftop with a view over the town.
The idea for Cafezique came to the owners Filipe and Sara Vilela last year and led them to join forces with sommelier João Valadas and chef Leandro Araújo, who had both previously worked at Almancil’s renowned São Gabriel restaurant.
“Our concept involves creating small dishes that are meant to be shared. These aren’t tapas. We like to call them ‘gourmet petiscos’ with better presentation and preparation,” the chef told Barlavento newspaper.
Owner Sara Vilela adds: “We want to serve good food and good wine in an informal setting at accessible prices.”
The menu includes 13 dishes, each of which can be paired with a wine under Valadas’ recommendation.
The options include ‘cavala alimada’ (Algarvian-style mackerel fish) served with a green sauce and smoked potatoes, or xerém (traditional Algarvian corn porridge) made with blackbelly rosefish, a fish that is rarely used in the region’s cuisine.
“Our idea is to take traditional products, turn them on their heads and combine them with others that are sometimes forgotten,” the chef said, adding that one of Cafezique’s dishes is made with ‘bísaro’ pork.
“We are the only eatery in the Algarve to use it,” he said.
His favourite dish on the menu is the lamb kibbeh, a kind of meatball served with peppermint and kefir, a fermented milk drink. “It is a Lebanese recipe from my grandmother,” the chef said.
“For dessert, we have a very intense chocolate ganache with peanut foam and coffee caramel. It is all made with high-quality products,” Araújo added, saying that the menu will change with the season to include “lighter and fresher dishes”.
The variety of wines to be paired with the dishes is an important feature at Cafezique.
Valada, who handpicks every wine in the menu, said: “Our chef prepares dishes from many regions, so I chose wines from all over the country. We have a little bit of everything.”
A meal for two, including four to five dishes, one bottle of wine, water and two coffees, will cost around €30 per person.
Cafezique is open between Monday and Saturday. On weekdays, the bar is open from 4pm to 6pm if the weather is nice, with dinners starting at 7pm. On Saturdays, the restaurant also opens for lunch between 1pm and 3pm.
Original article written by Maria Simiris for Barlavento newspaper.
