In total, 95,200 menus were sold this year, resulting in a direct economic impact on the region of around €353,030, while the sale of the event’s “passports” raised €12,500 to be distributed among charitable institutions in the Algarve.
The 2023 edition of the Rota do Petisco, which took place between September 15 and October 15, saw 176 establishments serve creative pesticos across 11 Algarve municipalities. During the 31 days of the event, foodies tasted 150 petiscos, 26 desserts, 14 signature dishes from renowned chefs, 12 dishes from other countries, 15 vegetarian snacks on the main menu, and many other vegetarian options offered by many establishments.
On each Rota day, it is estimated that around 3,065 menus were sold and that each establishment sold, on average, 18 “routes” daily. In total, 95,200 menus were sold, resulting in a direct economic impact on the region of around €353,030.
Additionally, through the sale of “passports” that guarantee access to the event, €12,500 was raised to be donated to social projects of charitable institutions in the Algarve.
In February, the Teia D’Impulsos Association will invite the six institutions that applied for Rota Solidária support to participate in a Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. The initiative will give them the necessary tools to better develop their ideas and the opportunity to present their projects to a jury that will designate the monetary support to be granted to each of them.
The candidate institutions for the Solidarity Route are:
- Agrupamento de Escolas Eng. Nuno Mergulhão
- Agrupamento de Escolas Poeta António Aleixo
- Associação Em Contacto
- CASA – Centro de Apoio ao Sem Abrigo
- FIR – Fundação Irene Rolo
- GRATO – Grupo de Apoio aos Toxicodependentes.
The best Chef, the best petiscos and the restaurants that best served the foodies
The prize-giving ceremony took place last Friday at the Casa da Cultura Islâmica e Mediterrânica in Silves. One of the most anticipated moments, in the final stretch of the event, was the attribution of the Rota Awards to the three establishments most voted by foodies on social media for the “Best Menu” and to another three for the “Best Spirit” in which foodies were welcomed along the gastronomic itinerary. The winners are:
Best Menu
Paladar Ibérico (Portimão)
Xerém do Mar accompanied with False Gin Tonic, Chef Marcos Guedes
Ceiceira Restaurant (Monchique)
Black pork and homemade waffle, Chef Gerard de Laure
Flor da Praça (Loulé)
Mushrooms with alheira and quail eggs
Best “Spirit”
Southwest Bistro (Lagos)
Twisted Lagareiro, Chef Hugo Ferreira
Vila Petra – Bucha Tapas & Wine Bar (Albufeira)
Shrimp Brigadeiro, Chef Hugo Martins
Bel Mondo (Portimão)
Tropical Risotto
For the first time, the organisation also decided to recognise the “Best Chef” of the Rota do Petisco. The new prize was awarded to Chef Daniel Ski from KAMIZA Sushi Bar in Loulé, who presented “A Journey through Japan” as a petisco.
Finally, the foodies themselves were entitled to many prizes. The Special Prize, which consists of a stay-and-kart experience at the Algarve Race Resort, was awarded to the most original slogan for the event. Three Rota das Images prizes were awarded for the most creative photographs taken during the event, and 84 prizes were drawn with the support of several Rota partners.
