Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant in Estremoz (Alentego, Portugal)
Gadanha Mercearia
Alentego is commonly known as the breadbasket of Portugal, a region of vast open countryside with undulating plains and rich fertile soil. It is known for its traditional cheeses, wines, bread, smoked hams and sausages. The region is the world’s most important producer of cork. The natives of Alentejo take their cuisine seriously and they enjoy long lunches of three hours or more and leisurely dinner accompanied by great wine of the region. Sandwiches and fast food are frowned upon. On our recent trip to the medieval town of Estremoz, we had lunch at Mercearia Gadanha, a renowned restaurant in the area. The town is famous for its fine marble, which have been used in many famous buildings and sculptures in Portugal. Marcearia Gadanha is a restaurant cum grocery store with a fine selection of wine, olive oil, smoked meat and cheeses. The menu showcases cuisine and products from the region cook in a traditional style with a contemporary twist.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant: A delicious starter of Foie Gras braised with potato and herbs.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant : Vegetable Tempura with light crispy batter served with garlic mayonnaise.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant: Octopus stewed until melt-in-the-mouth tenderness served on a bed of boiled potatoes and a root vegetable puree with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Delish!
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant : Freshly fried Potato Crisps sprinkled with herbs and sea salt served on culinary newspaper in a mini fryer.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant: A rustic country-style take on serving fresh bread in a cotton pouch.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant: Crème Brûlée Portuguese style with a creamy custard topped with smoky caramel presented in a mini-wok.
Mercearia Gadanha Restaurant: A bit of fun and playfulness with tea in a Kermit-style mug.
Mercearia Gadanha is a boutique restaurant patronised mostly by the locals, which is usually a good indication of great food (as opposed to touristy outfit). Mostly fresh and local ingredients in season are used in their innovative yet traditional menu helmed by a renowned local chef supported by a team of friendly and helpful staff. It has an informal atmosphere of a delicatessen store at the front, a wine cellar and a small restaurant at the back. It exudes a cosy and homey ambience.
I would certainly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is visiting Entremoz. The web site is http://merceariagadanha.pt/.
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