It’s just one more week before Portimão hosts the final stage of this year’s ‘Rota do Petisco’, the gastronomic event food lovers in the town have been waiting for.
The event started earlier than usual and was divided into stages due to its growing success, with the first being held in Lagos and Aljezur in May and the second in Lagoa, Silves and Monchique in June.
The last stage starts next Friday (September 9) in Portimão, the town where the event was created in 2011.
Around 125 eateries are taking part, divided into six areas – Portimão riverside (18), Portimão centre north (29), Portimão centre south (17), Portimão periphery (17), Praia da Rocha (23) and Alvor (21).
The event is almost universally praised for the much-needed boost it provides local eateries, and the way it attracts visitors to all parts of town.
The concept is simple. People buy a ‘passport’ – which is a guide to all the venues and their menus – and can sample a variety of typical dishes in tapas form for €3, accompanied by a drink
.
Local sweets and desserts can also be tasted for €2, while €1 of the passport’s price goes to help local charities and institutions.
A novelty this year is ‘Rota do Mundo’, a smaller version of the Tapas Route which offers foodies a chance to try foreign cuisine such as Japanese, Turkish, Mexican, Italian, Cape Verdean and Dutch.
Portimão’s market will also be selling “fresh produce” for €3, while the ‘Rota do Comércio’ will return with 40% discounts at a number of local stores.
Several bars will also take part in ‘Rota Noite Adentro’, which between 11pm and 1am will allow clients to purchase two drinks for the price of one.
Now in its sixth year, the event is one of the Algarve’s most popular gastronomic fixtures. In 2015, more than 242,000 menus were sold, generating around €700,000 for the restaurants and businesses involved.
The Portimão stage of the event ends on Sunday, October 9.
A list of all the eateries included in the ‘Rota’ will be uploaded soon to the event’s official website www.rotadopetisco.com
