erica,
It’s not new, as I have it in my Dining on the Costa de la Luz guide, which you have, but you still haven’t been to Venta La Duquesa on the road up to Medina Sidonia (right off the highway A396), with a female chef, Miriam Rodríguez, who trained with the Roca brothers at El Celler. I would put it on your list.
This is not your run-of-the-mill “venta” but quite the upscale, rather sophisticated dining spot. Go there for retinto beef or rabo de toro and vegetables from their own garden. Repsol recommended and a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Adriá and José Andrés have dined there.
Maribel I will make it this year. My hotel as you know is just off the road to Medina, so will be an easy drive. I’ m chuckling about the comments on booking Antonio! I guess three months is not too soon to Email them for some lunches in the bar!
The restaurant was “O Alpendre”. Great Pousada in Arraiolos, I love it (and the town), the only hotel I know where the bar used to close from 12 to 1pm for the staff’s lunch Then they moved and regrouped all the die hard union leaders from all the pousadas in Portugal to the pousada in Elvas, which was considered not so important because most clients were Spanish. But that was a long time ago, and I have not been back to the Elvas pousada since…
Hi PedroPero,
It´s a pdf that I sent to erica, and I can’t´attach it here (I can only upload photos, correct???) and don’t´ think I can attach it to a PM. If you want to send me a PM with an email, I’ll gladly email it to you, updated.
Monchique,
We had a lovely stay at that quiet, relaxing Pousada and what a beautifu blue and whitel tiled-filled chapel it has! Very kind staff as well.
We went there for some wine touring, an Alentejo Pousada fam. trip we did for a US based travel company that we collaborated with, along with a teeny, tiny bit of carpet shopping (just a 5x7) that sits proudly in my home. We hit all the Alentejo Pousadas on that trip (courtesy of that co.) except for Elvas.
Lucky you for the fam trip! I like all the pousadas in the Alentejo, but the one that has a special place in my hart is in Alvito; not as grand as some, but nice food and great service. By the way, I am trying to get rid of 2 ancient Arraiolos carpets, both 3 x 4 metres (that means large). Having had them restored by the pros in Arraiolos, I realised that after I renovated my house, they did not fit the rooms anymore :o( How stupid can one be???
I loved the peacocks in Alvito. Definitely one of our favorites because it was way off the beaten path and we really enjoyed the town.
Don’t discard the Arraiolos 3x4 meter carpets! Send them to me! lol! Although I don’t know where in the world in our house in Madrid we would put them!!
What I loved about the rooms of Lisbon’s Olissippo Lapa Palace were the Arraiolos carpets in the rooms! They are works of art and truly collector’s items.
Then they moved and regrouped all the die hard union leaders from all the pousadas in Portugal to the pousada in Elvas, which was considered not so important because most clients were Spanish. But that was a long time ago, and I have not been back to the Elvas pousada since…
