Nothing like a hearty meal to win my heart over, but this was no ordinary meal, and it did more than silence a rumbling belly, it silenced me too.
It began with a Moscatel to kick off our first gourmet escapade. After hearing about the Moscatel of Setubel, I simply had to try it and I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike dessert wines such as the brown brothers Moscato, this is no flat sweet tasting wine. Its a deep orange with red undertones and coyly captures with notes of sweetness when it first touches the palate keeping up the flirtation with a tinge of bitterness. Its dryness and peppery aftertaste serve well to balance out the intense sweetness that lingers on the tongue. one of the best I've tasted of dessert wines, paling in comparison only to my favourite Vin Santo from Toscana, at least in my opinion. I prefer depth in my dessert wines.
My main though rather plain looking, was a savoury treat for the palate. After much deliberation, I opted to try the Linguado a moda de vila Franca (grilled sole with butter, milk n lemon). The sole was without doubt the freshest I've ever tasted, the meat was tender and pretty much melted in my mouth. With my penchant for all things creamy, the flavourful sauce hit the spot striking a balance between salty and buttery on my tastebuds. Absolutely delightful!
The other interesting dish at the table was the Acorda de Gambas (grilled tiger shrimp with lemon shellfish bread pudding). Chunky yet smooth on the tongue, the mix of flavours is hard to distinguish at first. With every bite, it only gets better and the distinct flavours begin to show off their individual colours. The bite of salted fish paired with the fresh taste of coriander is welcoming to the palate while the savoury tastes are not overwhelmed by the variety of flavours in the dish. A very unique dish that earned a thumbs up from all at my table!
Definitely a place I'd recommend if visiting Lisbon.
A little distance, about a 10minute walk from the Baixa-Chiado metro, Cocheira Alentejana sits in an area known as Bairro-Alto. Expect to spend between 12-20 euros per person.
Cocheira Alentejana+351 213464868
