My Perfect Day in Portugal

This interview is part of a Soi 55 series called ‘My Perfect Day in Portugal’ which features local people and businesses in Portugal. Read more about it here.

How do you know Candy/ How did we meet?

I met Candy during the Pandemic, 2020. She mailed me to ask me if she could collaborate with us and discover some of our Wine Experiences. She actually came to our Country Lodging already 3 times in order to discover our region, culture, food and wine. Candy is a free spirit and a very good person. She is already part of our Burrico D´Orada

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I was born in Lisbon on September 20th 1975. I moved from Sintra county (where I was living since 1998)  to Baixo-Alentejo Inland (Serpa county) on August 3rd 2020.

What do you love most about where you live?

Life quality, silence, nature, safety, living cost, growing my own food, sustainable way of living and of course our region’s wines! 

Can you tell us more about your business?

I own a sustainable Country Lodging & Experiences and live at the same plot that belonged to my grandparents. We have 2 Wood Eco-Lodges of 55m2 (2 Bedroom equipped houses with Kitchen, small living-room and a front porch)  and a bigger House of 120m2 . Also a 2 bedroom equipped House with 2 Large Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1 Living Room with a wood-stove, 1 Dining-Area & Kitchen and outside area for leisure and meals.

 We also provide Wine Private Tours (1 up to 3 Days) with Pick-Up in Évora & Beja Areas and for our Guests at our Country-Lodging. We speak English, French & German besides Portuguese.

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What is your favourite region in Portugal and why?

I do not have a favourite region, but I can tell that I love the inland part of Portugal from North to South – it’s a part of our territory still preserved, with authenticity, slow living and much to offer in terms of landscape, history, food and wine. Far beyond the tourism masses in the big-capitals such as Porto, Lisboa and the Algarve (Albufeira, etc).

A Portuguese phrase you think would be useful for anyone visiting Portugal?

Not particularly, but I think it would be important to learn a few basic words before coming (“Vinho” Wine; “Café” Expresso; “Água” Water; “Obrigada(o)” Thank you; “Por Favor” Please; “Olá” Hello; “Bom dia” Good morning, etc) 

If you could only eat one Portuguese dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Cod – as it can be prepared in many different ways!!!

If you could only drink one Portuguese wine for the rest of your life what would it be?

Please don´t ask me this question 😉 …. I am a wine lover and I do not have a favourite type of wine, that depends on my mood and with whom I am!!! But, I love the Wines from the Dão and Beira-Interior regions and the Sparkling Wines from Bairrada. I am now discovering amazing Rosé Wines in Alentejo 😉

And finally… describe your perfect day in Portugal.

A perfect day in Portugal…I would suggest a 1 Day Tour with myself in my region – visiting local small wine-Producers (there are many!!!), going for a dive in Alqueva River Beach or for a Boating Trip at Sunset in Alqueva Great Lake, Visiting several small historic white-washed villages (Serpa, Moura, Vila de  Frades, Vila Alva, Portel), tasting Local food, excellent extra-virgin olive oils, DOP Cheeses & Black-Pork Ham / Sausages (yum!!!)  and finishing the day with a music of Cante Alentejano and toasting with a Sparkling-Wine from a local producer or even having dinner with us at Monte, enjoying slow food, the stars outside, the crickets singing and life amongst friendly people. Life is, NOW.

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This interview is part of a Soi 55 series called ‘My Perfect Day in Portugal’ which features local people and businesses in Portugal. Read more about it here.

How do you know Candy/ How did we meet?

We haven’t met personally (yet), but somehow you found me on IG during the Pandemic, right?

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I’m from Belo Horizonte – Brazil, I live in Lisbon since 2014 and do consider it home. 

What do you love most about where you live?

I love the sense of peace and security in whichever time of the day. Something I didn’t have when I lived in Rio de Janeiro, where I lived most part of my life. 

Can you tell us more about your business?

I am the Head Sommelier at Feitoria, 1 Michelin star in Belém Lisbon. 

Through the pandemic in 2020 my wife and I began to desenvolve our channel through Instagram @pedrones_somm, and talk about wine in a more approachable way. 

This year I became a Wine Educator for the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) in Lisbon. I’ve found it to be really gratifying. My students have been doing great and I find amusing when I get referred to as “Professor”. 

What is your favourite region in Portugal and why?

Douro Valley. I find it one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. No matter how many times I go there, it always takes my breath away. 

Portugal’s best kept secret is _________{fill in the blank}.

Oysters! They’re such great quality… and you have 3 different regions: Tavira (Algarve), Setúbal, Ria de Aveiro. 

If you could only eat one Portuguese dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Plumas / Secretos de Porco Preto 

If you could only drink one Portuguese wine for the rest of your life what would it be?

Carrocel by Alvaro Castro – Dão Valley, best Touriga Nacional ever. 

Team Sagres or Superbock?

SUPERBOCK of course!

And finally…describe your perfect day in Portugal…

There is a really small bakery close to my house that’s been around since the 1920s and from time to time I love getting their fresh bread and pastries during my morning walks with my dog Jesse. 

For lunch I would go to Marisqueira do Lis, get some amêijoas à bulhão pato and main course Camarão Tigre (Tiger Prawn) that are just insanely tasty. Wash that down with a nice Alvarinho. 

I’d then up to Graça , find a cool ice team parlor to freshen things up and see my favorite view point of the City – Nossa Senhora do Monte. Get a fresh beer nearby, either a Super Bock or a Craft Beer at 8ª Colina. 

After that I would go for some good wines at Vino Vero, they have great snacks to pair the delish wines they got. Portuguese & international – Organics, Bio, Natural, you name it. 

If I’d feel like having a good dinner, I would walk to SEM – an all ‘Zero Waste’ concept restaurant with fresh farm to table products. 

I think I’d call that an almost to perfect day. There’s plenty to do in the city!

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This interview is part of a Soi 55 series called ‘My Perfect Day in Portugal’ which features local people and businesses in Portugal. Read more about it here.

I met António through Instagram in 2020 and we’ve been online friends ever since. When I need help with Português pronunciation he is my go-to guy! Sadly we have only managed to meet in real life once, I actually moved to Lisbon about the same time he moved to Algarve so we crossed path. When we did meet he took me to his favourite mousse de chocolate place, and no mousse de chocolate has ever been the same since!

How do you know Candy/ How did we meet?

Through Online Platforms (not Tinder!!!). Just some random Instagram interaction sharing places we’ve visited and liked. Lots of food and places were shared during these 2 years. Unfortunately, I only met Candy live once .

Where are you from and where do you live now?

Originally a Margem Sul Guy (Lisbon south side), I moved to Ferragudo, Algarve, approximately one year ago and i’m loving it.

What do you love most about where you live?

How easy you can get from a traditional village to a calm beach just by walking. Also, having the right amount of people living here .

Can you tell us more about your business?

I work as a country Product Manager for one big IT company for retail products. Can’t say the company but it ends with “enovo”.

What is your favourite region in Portugal and why?

Very hard since Portugal is special and different from north to south and also including the islands. I would have to say though that I found the most peace in Alentejo and small hidden Algarve villages (Ferragudo,Carvoeiro, Praia Verde).

Portugal’s best kept secret is how quick and heartwarming you can have a very tasteful meal on Wine, bread, cheese and traditional sausages.

A Portuguese phrase you think would be helpful for anyone visiting Portugal?

A esperança é a ultima a morrer (hope is the last one to die). Very meaningful as it resembles our battling aura, challenging the odds when shorthanded and passing obstacles based on belief and soul power.

If you could only eat one Portuguese dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Feijoada de Choco or Polvo à lagareiro

If you could only drink one Portuguese wine for the rest of your life what would it be?

Planalto on the whites, Herdade dos Coteis on the Reds, Mateus on the Rosé 🙂 

Team Sagres or Superbock?

Team glass full 

And finally…describe your perfect day in Portugal…

Start the day doing stand up paddle in Rio Arade and visiting one of the nearby beaches (Caneiros as example). You can even rent them at Waterflow, a Ferragudo based company.

Having lunch in Petiscos Capela (you can try 3 or 4 traditional dishes at an average price of 5€ per dish). Then, go to Serra de Monchique and appreciate the view, go jumping on some waterfalls, go hiking on the shore or simply enjoy a nap under a tree.

In the afternoon, go to one sunset party in Club Nau where you can also enjoy a good meal and drink their wonderful Passion Fruit Mojitos. A good selection of wine and matured meat is also available with a live band playing in the back and a magnificent sunset displaying in front of you. As an alternative, barbecue with friends on a terrace with a sunset view is also an option.

At night, you can enjoy long walks through the village or try Caniço, a hidden gem in Portimao where you can access a private beach bar through an elevator craved inside the rocks. Its incredible and the atmosphere is really private. No Solo Agua is also famous for their parties if you want to go nuts (with class).

On a personal note, I would like to say I really liked meeting Candy. We’ve been speaking since July 2020 (forgot it was so long ago) and sharing not only restaurants, foods (lots of octopus and Carne de porco a Alentejana), places Portuguese sayings, but also intimate meaningful  things with each other. I consider Candy a trustworthy friend, with excellent taste and a warrior for everything she has been through.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my experience and who knows, motivate other people to come and enjoy this place.

This made me smile a lot! Mutio obrigada pela ajuda António!

This interview is part of a Soi 55 series called ‘My Perfect Day in Portugal’ which features local people and businesses in Portugal. Enjoy! Read more about it here.

João Mourato, Chef at Quinta do Quetzal

How do you know Candy/ How did we meet? (optional question)
I met Candy through a mutual friend, Rita Valadas in a visit to my restaurant

Where are you from and where do you live now?
I’m from Portalegre, but I work in Vidigueira, in the summer I go back to my hometown every
15 days.

What do you love most about where you live?
Being surrounded by fresh air, nature and the culture of the people of the Alentejo

Can you tell us more about your business? (you can include links)
I work at Quinta do Quetzal a restaurant/winery in Vidigueira, one of the most unique looking
places in the Alentejo, with modern design building mixing with the natural landscaping of the
Alentejo, in one of the most culturally rich small towns of the Alentejo, Vila de Frades, a place
where the Romans made wine over 200 years ago.

VISIT QUINTA DO QUETZAL

What is your favourite region in Portugal and why?
Of course it’s the Alentejo the region where I’m from and where I feel the most at home. An
extremely rich region in culture and gastronomy

Portugal’s best kept secret is… the people.

A Portuguese phrase you think would be helpful for anyone visiting Portugal?
Nao é facil mas secalhar ia por :
Boa tarde uma imperial e uma bifana sff

If you could only eat one Portuguese dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Tough question, but I would say traditional Alentejo gazpacho, accompanied by cheeses and
smoked meats from the Alentejo.

If you could only drink one Portuguese wine for the rest of your life what would it be?
Quetzal familia tinto

QUINTA DO QUETZAL WINES

Team Sagres or Superbock?
Team sagres

And finally…describe your perfect day in Portugal…
Waking Up at Casal Ventoso, a rural hotel in Evoramonte, taking off to Évora, to have breakfast
ate café Arcada e taking a tour of the historic centre, then going to the roman ruins of S.Cucufate in Vila de Frades and after visiting the winery and have lunch at Quinta do Quetzal.
After lunch drive off to coastal Alentejo to Porto Covo, enjoy the sunset beachside and finish
with dinner at Tasca do Celso. A full day through some of the best areas of the Alentejo.

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