צ'יין דה רוטיסורס

On Saturday 19 November members of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and their guests met at the atmospheric and cosy restaurant O Leão de Porches in Porches. Their hostess Bianca Salden, a long time good friend of the confraternity, had promised an exciting and tasty menu and members were looking forward to see what she and her Portuguese Chef Marisa Alface were planning to serve them.

Marisa Alface has been cooking at O Leão de Porches for more than three years now. After leaving the hotel and tourist school in her home town of Setúbal she gained experience in several Portuguese kitchens before taking up her present position in Porches.

The welcome drink was espumante from the Bairada region served with amuse bouches of filled poppadom’s and olives. The dinner started with a soup of beetroot, ginger, coconut and green apple served with a muscatel from the Douro area and progressed to the fish course consisted of the traditional Portuguese fish cantaril on a bed of creamy orange risotto with fennel and radish accompanied by a white wine from the Lisbon area. Loin of lamb with seasonal chestnut puree, Japanese winter radish daikon and pistachio-almond crumble formed the main course which was complimented by a Sauvignon from the Tejo. Orange textures formed the desert; a dish made with local oranges prepared in five different ways and complimented by Vinha d’Ervideira from the Alentejo. As promise the menu was seasonal, local and tasty and served with exciting wines from all over Portugal.

Bianca and Marissa where thanked by Bailli Jean Ferran and the group showed their appreciation for the expertise shown by Bianca and Marissa.

The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is a global gastronomic association, open to both professional and non-professional members, which was founded in France in 1248. If you wish to know more about the Chaîne here in Portugal please contact Acting Bailli Jean Ferran at chaine@monchique.com.