Members of the Bailliage de l’Algarve of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and their guests celebrated the fraternity that unites professionals and non-professionals with a mutual interest in food and wine at a dinner held on Friday, March 15.
The venue was Restaurant Bon Bon in Lagoa, holder of a Michelin star for the past three years, which is housed in a hexagon-shaped building. Many say that this shape exudes peace and calmness as it is easily found in nature, such as in snowflakes and honeycombs.
Confrère and restaurant owner Nuno Diogo, Chaîne member and maître d’, welcomed the group who were soon seated and enjoying the relaxing ambience of the dining area around the central fireplace which was blazing cheerfully.
Chef Louis Anjos, sous-chef Ricardo Luz and pastry chef Raul Cachola had promised a menu which contained Portuguese, French and Nordic influences and started with their amuse bouche of nuts. Beautifully displayed on wood and cork dishes were walnuts and peanuts constructed of a delicate shell filled with cheese and chicken mousses. Care was needed not to select the natural nuts but to go for the constructed delights.
Nordic delicacies made with cod followed before the group went on to enjoy courses which included Ria de Alvor molluscs, a beautiful sea bass dish, oxtail terrine and veal cheek, and culminated in a dessert with almonds, honey and lavender.
The peace and calmness of the building was reflected in the combination and balance of the food with the wines chosen by Nuno Diogo and Louis Anjos, which helped make the evening such a memorable one.
This event, as with all Chaîne des Rôtisseurs events worldwide, helps to support our charities, internationally with AACR and locally in Portugal with our gastronomic school which gives underprivileged children the opportunity to enrol in courses that give them grounding in the hospitality industry.
If you wish to know more about the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, visit www.chainedesrotisseurs.com
By VALERIE LANTAU
