Ocean restaurant at the Vila Vita Parc resort near Porches has been awarded its second Michelin star, two years after gaining its first.
The award makes Ocean one of two restaurants in Portugal to have two Michelin stars, the other being Vila Joya in Albufeira, which retained its rating in the 2012 Michelin Guide to Spain & Portugal.
Austrian chefs Hans Neuner from Ocean and Dieter Koschina from Vila Joya are among other internationally renowned chefs who have succeeded in achieving two Michelin stars such as Raymond Blanc, Michel Roux Jr, Marcus Wareing, Thomas Kellermann and Hans van Wolde.
A spokesman for Vila Vita told the Algarve Resident: “While Hans’ mantra of ‘keep it simple’ might initially seem at odds with the normal Michelin philosophy, his seasonally changing menu is technically perfect and exacting, and showcases a remarkable and incredibly distinctive light touch.
“Ocean restaurant prides itself on its food with a Portuguese signature. A strong focus is placed on using the best local products, including fish and seafood from the Atlantic, fruit and vegetables from the farms of the Algarve, and meat and game from the Monchique mountains and the Alentejo.”
In the Vila Joya’s website, Chef Dieter Koschina is described as cooking with “creativity and passion serving up exquisite and delicious food with finesse”.
“Koschina combines fresh local produce and ingredients from the markets of the Algarve, and seafood from the Atlantic and Mediterranean with the classics of French haute cuisine, creating a menu of the finest slow food in Portugal.”
