Arola

Another visit to the amazing and gorgeous Penha Longa Resort and this time to eat at Arola. This restaurant is one of the three restaurants that this resort has, along with Il Mercato e Midori (check the post about this one).

It is the only one outside the main building, the most modern too and best known for his wine cellar, vodka bar and menu by Sergi Arola (Michelin Star Chef).

The Menu was design by Sergi Arola but the food is made by Chef Milton Anes... and what a great work that he and his team do.

As usual the choice was the tasting Menu and it was an amazing experience... the food is delicious, the space perfect... everything spot on... and by the way! the restaurant has an open kitchen! always a plus.

So lets talk about this outstanding menu, shall we... 

Starting with a dish called "Pa amb Tomàquet" (which mean toasted bread, garlic and tomato)... really cool concept... and easy to eat (came with instructions)...all the dishes are very Spanish (as expected)... and this one is as Spanish as you can get... for this, you have to use you hands... a little work doesn't hurt anyone. 

 

Next... Thin Sliced Iberian Pork with Parmesan, green apple, green pepper and pistachios. Spectacular! tasty, well presented, great flavor combination and very simple... letting the ingredients shine... followed by mussels and  fried purple potatoes.  

Keeping the cold dishes... Marinated scallops with fennel and caviar... I didn't expect a dish like this and it was pleasant surprise... very simple, clean but the same time very luxurious... despite the caviar the boss were the scallops. 

Octopus carpaccio with mackerel... the perfect fusion between a Portuguese octopus salad and classic Spanish gazpacho... once again! delicious.. very well executed. A tribute to both cuisines.

Hot starters... Bravas Potatoes Arola served with “Aioli” and Spicy Tomato sauce and Spanish Tortilla with crispy onions, onions jam and egg yolk. A small portion but rich in flavor and a classic in the Arola restaurants. 

the main dishes were:

Foie-gras with brioche, mushrooms and raisin tomatoes. The best foie that I have eaten so far... spot on.

Roast hook hake with warm spinach salad, curry, piquillo peppers and almond crumble - regarding this dish the only thing that I have to say is... "Why I cant do this at home!? Would be so much easier to eat hake". I loved the mixture between the curry and the fish (and I'm not a fan of curry because restaurants usually abuse it which ruin the entire dish... but in this case it was perfect... well balanced).

Suckling pig with black pepper... for me the best dish of all! I had never eaten so tender suckling pig... perfect crackling skin and sauce so well balanced in term of seasoning.

So we end it with the desserts...

As a pre-dessert a little meringue and strawberries.

Yogurt cream with coconut ice cream, pistachio and raspberry cream ... the yogurt was delicious (it seemed almost an panna-cotta). 

And the perfect end... crème brûlée with white grapes... it seem odd but works perfectly.

In short... worth going to Arola for everything... the experience, the environment, the service and the food... especially the food... Congrats to the chef and his team... And thanks for the amazing evening. 

The food:

https://www.facebook.com/PenhaLongaHotel
http://www.penhalonga.com/en/Dining/Arola

Address:

Estrada da Lagoa Azul, Linhó
2710 Sintra

Eat Drink Live Enjoy...