A Vela and Casa Algarvia

[Simon Macdonald]

You're welcome, but it's a helluva' trip from Lincon to the West Highlands, However there are some keen backgammon players up here as well. You could stop by and bring the delightful Ellie along as well, I reckon she's up for Swordfish Portimao style. Couverts are of course optional, but they will all be home made, and no laughing cow cheese or mass produced sardine pate!

[Michael Crane]

Mmm, as tasty as it all sounds, Tom Tom tells me you're 419 miles away and it'll take just over 8 hours to get there

I think I'll give it a miss, Simon.

[Ellie]

I love Swordfish steak Simon & Michael but have only experienced it with butter & lemon..
so would love to try it Portimao-style, sounds delish

We used to live near Penrith, lake Ullswater, Simon so would have been closer then?

BTW, Ive seen Simon on TV

p.s. Ive had 'Tornedo 'A' Chefe' in Colombos..with fillet steak and bacon wrapped around, slice of cheese on top? Really tasty..but served in dish with sort of 'pot roast' potatoes?

[Gary/Gaynor]

...yeh me too
Gaynor

[bifas 1st darling!]

Being in the culinary world and they recognised me from a tv show I did with fish, I was invited to the kitchens to cook my own under the guidance of their chef... I hasten to add, I still had to pay full wack for cooking it and also the other dishes I cooked for my other guests!!!

hmmm, might have to ask Paulo if this is true

[Simon Macdonald]

Paulo took me to the kithchen to do my thing... even provided me with the hat... made me feel like an ice cream vendor... not the usual chef's toque!!! the cooking experience was year before last... I still have the hat and look at it with fond memories of another good night in one of my favourite resaurants!

I enjoy the atmosphere in Casa Algarvia, there's always a buzz and the team always smile and make time for you, even when they are busy. We normally prefer to sit outside and people watch, although beware of letting your chair get too close to the edge by the pavement. One of our lot managed to slide off and finish up on the pavement. Didn't know what to do first, reach for the camera, go "tut-tut, he's nothing to do with us!", try and ignore the spectacle or pick him up. Once the laughter calmed down, we did a bit of each. On the plus side, he managed to hurt his shoulder enough to put him off his golf the next day, so every cloud has a silver lining and all that!

Paulo knows better than to bring me the menu now, he just smiles and brings on the swordfish

[Please Sir]

Went yesterday evening for the swordfish. It was very busy when we got there at 8pm and we had to wait for a table. The fish was very nice but I don't recommend having the mushroom carvoeiro style as the starter because it s the same sauce.