GOURMET DINNER AT "PEQUENO MUNDO"

September 14^th, 2013

ALMANCIL

FLYER             

For the first time the Algarve Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs will be enjoying a "cuisine francais" experience at the RESTAURANTE PEQUENO MUNDO in Almancil which is a favourite haunt of our V.Chancelier/Argentier, Jos Zweegers and his wife Noreen.

Tonight our hosts are the co-owners, Joaquim Vilela, who looks after the Service and the Restaurant and the Chef de Cuisine, Guy Doré. They have owned the "Pequeno Mundo" restaurant since 1999 and there, in the heart of the Algarve shaded by a canopy of cork trees, we find a traditional Algarvian property which is both elegant and rustic and is divided into a patio, a terrace and two indoor dining areas.

The restaurant is decorated in natural tones which provide charm and sophistication to the rooms. You can admire the 16th century altar, which is the backdrop to the bar, and some Portuguese antiques. If you come in the winter you can relax by the fire with an aperitif but on September 14, which should still be summer, we may be able to sit and dine under the stars, surrounded by the fragrance of the plants and flowers in the garden. The sound of the fountain will transform our meal into a unique and memorable experience.

Joaquim Vilela who runs the Restaurant comes from north Portugal and as a young man left for France where he lived for seven years before going to Australia where he worked in various positions, including as concierge at the Hilton Hotel and as an interpreter for the Ethnic Affairs Commission in New South Wales. Some 30 years ago he took a vacation in the Algarve and then remained here. As he has always been working with people Joaquim knows how to look after them.

Guy Doré, the Chef de Cuisine, comes from Troyes, Champagne, France and as one can expect from a Frenchman the restaurant menu comprises of mainly recipés of French origin with a simplified process, but with special attention provided to flavours and presentation. Since the commencement of the restaurant he has been preparing basically the same dishes like "mussel soup", crispy prawns", sea bream fillets” Provencal", "prawn with mango curry", veal fillet with mushrooms and Port wine", "Chateaubriand with béarnaise sauce", "chocolate fondant on vanilla custard" as well as the indispensable "raspberry croustillant" and on September 14 our menu will only contain his best signature dishes.

Guy began his path to Chef de Cuisine by working between 1979 and 1988 in Paris, London and Cannes, where his experience with Jacques Chibois (2 * Michelin Hotel Gray d'Albion in Cannes) determined a change in his style of cooking. During this 10 year period he participated in the organization and opening of two restaurants, one in Mersea (England) "Le Champenois" and another in Cannes "L'Echiquier".Due to meeting and marrying his wife Milita his path moved to the Algarve in 1988, when he opened a small creperie -restaurant the "Paris-Cannes". In the early 1990´s he became the Chef in the restaurant “O Traditional” where the collaboration with Joaquim Vilela as head waiter began. In 1999 they acquired the "Pequeno Mundo".

Guy has selected a very contrasting and exciting menu for us and the wines picked to enhance the menu have been enthusiastically approved by Rod Frew our V.Echanson.