Lagar de mesquita

Thursday 26 May 2016

Dear diary,some times it takes a while for recommendations from friends to sink in.Some of these came from friends who were restaurateurs themselves and others,Casa rosada guests who were travelling through the east Algarve and had dined there.The common denominator among them all however was an agreement about probably one of the most delightful and stylish restaurants in the East Algarve.Lagar de Mesquita is in a very small village between São Brás de Alportel and Tavira. In your search for this off the beaten gastronomic nirvana,be prepared to get wonderfully lost in the network of rural lanes that so typify the Algarvian Barrocal.Driving around these narrow roads makes getting lost so much fun, but not if you are the driver.The fascination is for the passengers to become involved with the details of the landscape.The wild flowers, the bushes, the colours the crops and the cottages with their traditional Noras (wells).When you finally arrive, stimulated by the landscape you have just driven through, the exterior is nothing to write home about, just a typical rather nondescript Portuguese facade.But just wait till you see inside to get the ambiance.Well we had finally made it after about two years of recommendations, my name was written all over it ,my kind of place.High expectation splendidly matched a more than beautiful reality.First off,it was here that I learnt that the word Lagar meant olive press and that is how I discovered that one of my favourite dishes Polvo a lagareiro came to be named.If lagar was the mill then O lagareiro was the owner.Gudrun Tschiggeri, an Austrian expat, has transformed the interior into a sophisticated and cosmopolitan space for international dining. In the spacious dining room you are wined and dined surrounded by unusual art and pieces of distressed antique furniture, all for sale. Besides the food almost everything can be bought, including several items of clothing hanging on a coat rack as you enter.There is also an outdoor terrace and garden.Some of our favourite choices from our lunch were..... 

 Delicious food, an innovative and extensive wine list, attentive service (but not over the top napkin flappers), charming ambience, delightful decor - everything about this place rocks.Off the beaten track but well worth making the effort. 

It took the recommendation of cool visiting friends from London for us to learn about and experience this delightful restaurant. Lagar da Mesquita is in the center of a very small village, just to the east of São Brás de Alportel on the way to Tavira. From the outside, Lagar da Mesquita is a nondescript traditional Portuguese structure; but step inside, to enjoy fresh Mediterranean cuisine in a modern ambiance. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- What was once a large olive mill (lagar) is now a popular modern restaurant. Austrian expat Gudrun Tschiggerl purchased the already-renovated mill and transformed it into a rustic and casual, yet sophisticated and cosmopolitan space for international dining and live entertainment. Several distinct areas make Lagar da Mesquita a nice place to visit no matter your mood. A terrace and garden are ideal for summer lunches and warm Algarvian evenings. The inside dining room is open and spacious, with art from Azeitão artist Lina Vaz adorning virtually every niche and ledge. An airy central lounge features cushioned sofa and chairs, and grand piano. It’s a comfortable spot to spend your pre- or post-dinner hours. Lagar da Mesquita Lagar da Mesquita Chef Nelson Viegas is in the kitchen creating delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes that don’t disappoint. Some favorites from our visit include: ■ Sautéed shrimps with garlic (200 g) ■ Gratinated goat cheese with black pepper, honey and mushroom ■ Homemade wild mushroom paté with Port wine, fig compote and toast ■ Harissa marinated tuna steak with fresh green beans and a black olive-cherry tomato salsa ■ Poached sole fillet stuffed with salmon mousse on sautéed spinach in a saffron-mussels sauce ■ Pan fried squid Algarvian style with roasted potato and seasonal salad ■ Pan fried guinea fowl breast with beans stew and glazed chestnuts ■ Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin ■ Venison loin with rosemary jus, celery-ginger purée, red cabbage and blueberry jam ■ Homemade lemon or mango cream ■ Homemade apple tart with vanilla ice-cream ■ Homemade tiramisú The menu also features salads and pastas. Lagar da Mesquita Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin

Read more at: http://portugalconfidential.com/lagar-da-mesquita-modern-mediterranean-cuisine-in-sao-bras-algarve/

It took the recommendation of cool visiting friends from London for us to learn about and experience this delightful restaurant. Lagar da Mesquita is in the center of a very small village, just to the east of São Brás de Alportel on the way to Tavira. From the outside, Lagar da Mesquita is a nondescript traditional Portuguese structure; but step inside, to enjoy fresh Mediterranean cuisine in a modern ambiance. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- What was once a large olive mill (lagar) is now a popular modern restaurant. Austrian expat Gudrun Tschiggerl purchased the already-renovated mill and transformed it into a rustic and casual, yet sophisticated and cosmopolitan space for international dining and live entertainment. Several distinct areas make Lagar da Mesquita a nice place to visit no matter your mood. A terrace and garden are ideal for summer lunches and warm Algarvian evenings. The inside dining room is open and spacious, with art from Azeitão artist Lina Vaz adorning virtually every niche and ledge. An airy central lounge features cushioned sofa and chairs, and grand piano. It’s a comfortable spot to spend your pre- or post-dinner hours. Lagar da Mesquita Lagar da Mesquita Chef Nelson Viegas is in the kitchen creating delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes that don’t disappoint. Some favorites from our visit include: ■ Sautéed shrimps with garlic (200 g) ■ Gratinated goat cheese with black pepper, honey and mushroom ■ Homemade wild mushroom paté with Port wine, fig compote and toast ■ Harissa marinated tuna steak with fresh green beans and a black olive-cherry tomato salsa ■ Poached sole fillet stuffed with salmon mousse on sautéed spinach in a saffron-mussels sauce ■ Pan fried squid Algarvian style with roasted potato and seasonal salad ■ Pan fried guinea fowl breast with beans stew and glazed chestnuts ■ Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin ■ Venison loin with rosemary jus, celery-ginger purée, red cabbage and blueberry jam ■ Homemade lemon or mango cream ■ Homemade apple tart with vanilla ice-cream ■ Homemade tiramisú The menu also features salads and pastas. Lagar da Mesquita Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin

Read more at: http://portugalconfidential.com/lagar-da-mesquita-modern-mediterranean-cuisine-in-sao-bras-algarve/

It took the recommendation of cool visiting friends from London for us to learn about and experience this delightful restaurant. Lagar da Mesquita is in the center of a very small village, just to the east of São Brás de Alportel on the way to Tavira. From the outside, Lagar da Mesquita is a nondescript traditional Portuguese structure; but step inside, to enjoy fresh Mediterranean cuisine in a modern ambiance. -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- What was once a large olive mill (lagar) is now a popular modern restaurant. Austrian expat Gudrun Tschiggerl purchased the already-renovated mill and transformed it into a rustic and casual, yet sophisticated and cosmopolitan space for international dining and live entertainment. Several distinct areas make Lagar da Mesquita a nice place to visit no matter your mood. A terrace and garden are ideal for summer lunches and warm Algarvian evenings. The inside dining room is open and spacious, with art from Azeitão artist Lina Vaz adorning virtually every niche and ledge. An airy central lounge features cushioned sofa and chairs, and grand piano. It’s a comfortable spot to spend your pre- or post-dinner hours. Lagar da Mesquita Lagar da Mesquita Chef Nelson Viegas is in the kitchen creating delicious Mediterranean-inspired dishes that don’t disappoint. Some favorites from our visit include: ■ Sautéed shrimps with garlic (200 g) ■ Gratinated goat cheese with black pepper, honey and mushroom ■ Homemade wild mushroom paté with Port wine, fig compote and toast ■ Harissa marinated tuna steak with fresh green beans and a black olive-cherry tomato salsa ■ Poached sole fillet stuffed with salmon mousse on sautéed spinach in a saffron-mussels sauce ■ Pan fried squid Algarvian style with roasted potato and seasonal salad ■ Pan fried guinea fowl breast with beans stew and glazed chestnuts ■ Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin ■ Venison loin with rosemary jus, celery-ginger purée, red cabbage and blueberry jam ■ Homemade lemon or mango cream ■ Homemade apple tart with vanilla ice-cream ■ Homemade tiramisú The menu also features salads and pastas. Lagar da Mesquita Lamb shank North African style with spices and roasted pumpkin

Read more at: http://portugalconfidential.com/lagar-da-mesquita-modern-mediterranean-cuisine-in-sao-bras-algarve/