Algarve news and information portal - AlgarveMais

There is no doubt about it; the Algarve is a Gastronomic heaven for lovers of sea food. From the simplest dish of grilled sardines to the more exotic cataplana you will appreciate the freshness and quality of what's on offer. Steak on the stone, suckling pig, rabbit, lamb and the famous chicken piri piri with delicious salads and washed down with a suitable Portuguese wine, delicious. Don't miss out on the home made desserts, prepared using local ingredients such as almonds, oranges, figs and honey. And if you are not the driver complete your meal with an aguardente de medronho a traditional spirit drink.   

The more traditional dish is fish, probably the most famous being cataplana which is served in a copper bowl,buy make no mistake the meat is just as good, and desserts are irresistable, to accompany all of that there is a fantastic choice of wines, ports and liqueurs at reasonable prices. Moving onto something a little more fruity the orange is a widely grown produce of the Algarve and if you see them being sold at the side of the road stop and buy some, they ore sweet and delicious.
You can dine in the evening in most restaurants from 6.30pm. But don't expect to be served at 11 pm unless it is a nightclub or bar, Most Portuguese people dine around 8pm - 9pm,  
so if you haven't reserved, try to arrive about 7.30pm, many typical Portuguese restaurants in towns cater for office staff with inexpensive dishes of the day. 'Pratos do dia', at lunchtime, It is often possible to order a half portion (meia dose), usually more like a full portion in a restaurant back home - a good way to sample local dishes inexpensively.  
All restaurants stock vinho da casa - house wine - in while (branco) and red (tinto). This
will be the least! expensive wine on offer and it saves studying the wine list (lista de vin¬hos) which, unless you are familiar with Portuguese wines, may be largely incom¬prehensible anyway. 
Nearly all restaurants in the Algarve stock only Portuguese wines, of which there is a very wide range. In addition la a great variety of white and red table wines, Portugal produces many 'green', pink, champagne-style and dessert! wines. 
Vinho verde 'green' wines, from the north-west of Portugal, are light and refreshing - an appropriate lunchtime tipple, especially with fish or chicken dishes. Rosé is also light, though usually without the slight sparkle of vinho verde. 
The Algarve produces both white and red table wines. Although connoisseurs used to turn their noses up at them, there are now some notable exceptions. Sir Cliff Richard produces 'Vida Nova' from his estate at Guia and the 
Reserva and special labels like Salira from the Lagoa wine co-operative are very drinkable, Alentejo is the province to the north of the Algarve; whites and, particularly, reds produced there are now accepted as Portugal most consistent good value wines. Names look out for are Monsaraz, Borba, Redondo Reguengos, Vidigueira and Monte-Velho 
The Setubal / Palmela area, Just south Lisbon, also produces some fine wines. One to keep an eye open for is Fontenario de Pegõe There are many indigenous Portuguese grapes producing a subtle variety of tastes, Educate your palate further with the better wines from, areas further north Ribatejo, Estremadura Bairrada and the Douro valley.