Catch It Clean It Cook It on in a Holiday Home Lagos Portugal Style

Recent read the Portuguese diet of excessive fish eating been criticized. Have to be honest was some what surprised to see criticism of the type.  But on further reading I could gasp the essence of the report.  It was the Portuguese love of tuna "atum" and other scarce fish species that was been looked at closely.  Yes indeed the Portuguese love their atum but the equally love their frango and porco.

They are a fish crazy nation, to be fair quite alot of their fish is farmed nowadays.  As well their is no waste your Sea Bass is served with head on eyes in and everything on the plate apart from the bones are eaten.
At weekends some very ingenious BBQs are produced on the side of streets and roof tops and the charred smell of sardines cooking hangs in the air as a reminder of healthy eating and goodness.

The Portuguese fishing in many ways Lagos has a full harbour of small fishing boats.  If your staying in a local self-catering holiday accommodation in Patio Do Convento or The Marina Apartments. Take a stroll any time on year at night down the Avenida and you ll see the fishermen with their poles hanging out over the canal wall.   Indeed the benefit of self-catering you can buy fish in the market and cook yourself.  Fish is so much in demand Lidl have a fresh fish counter in their stores in Portugal.

Harbour Fishing

There are many long breakwaters protecting the harbours and marinas these offer good fishing for many species in all sea conditions.

Boats, there are a number of charter boats available, some are excellently run, catering for experienced big game anglers, others are frankly only suitable for people looking for a trip out to sea for a few beers and possibly a few fish. At certain times of the year when the water temperature is high we get a run of Marlin, both Blue and White, there are yearly competitions run from Vilamoura marina and Tavira.

Cliff Fishing

On the weekend you can find people perched on the top of 200ft. Cliffs even on ropes half way down the cliff. They catch a variety of fish including many types of Bream, Bass, Mackerel, Garfish, Mullet etc. Best baits are Sardine, prawns and worms. A piece of fresh Mackerel with the blood oozing out is good for many species. Main problem in this fishing is lifting large fish up the cliff and a variety of lift net is usually employed
Beach fishing, there are miles of beaches that can offer some nice fishing, especially for bass. Bass to near 20lb are reported but more normal is 3 or 4lb.

Game Fishing

We have some of the greatest game fishing in the World off the Algarve coast and offer you the opportunity to experience this with our charter boat skipper who has been very successful in tracking down the various species available off this fabulous coast. Marlin, blue and white, tuna, a wide variety of sharks and much more. See the gallery below for more detail.
When you book a self- catering holiday in Lagos, or a holiday villa in Vilamoura if interested in fish make sure and get local details from the agent or owner.

Chestnuts Roasted on a Portuguese Fire

I can recall in childhood some 54 yrs ago street vendors on the side of the street selling roasted chestnuts.  Have to be honest its a vivid memory but I think it was on a visit to London. Personally my memory is triggered more often than not by smell.  The recollection of a smell of something brings back the image of the scene.  It the case of the roasted chestnuts its more the smell of the coal created the heat that I recall.  In particular I can recall the smoke coming from the roaster.

                                                          The poisonous Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

It was a time we were less environmentally aware and small of smoke was a sign fires were burning and you d be heading home out of the winter cold.  But eating roasted chestnuts on side of the street as Irish was a thing other nationalities done.  We looked on curiously in the cinema or early television with the thought some people would eat anything.

Not that we were short of chestnuts the Irish countryside has been full of Horse Chestnut Trees for unfortunately are poisonous if eaten.  I can remember as a young guy going  the "Big Park" in Waterford city in the South of Ireland and collection what we referred to as Congers.   They normally would have fallen from the majestic Horse Chestnut Trees the Inner nut was protected by a green outer shell which nature allowed to have small barbs or thorns.  Its European Cousin the edible version has somewhat hairy outer jacket.

Anyway the sole purpose of this Big Park expedition was to prepare for a game of conkers.  I was one of those seasonal childhood games.   Must confess was always curious how they started or who was the first in the season and how did the last guy know the time was up.   In fairness you really stood out from the crowd if you carried on a season game whose tome had passed.

Congers was a simple game you used a nail to put a hole in the chestnut.  Then ran a piece of twine or string tied a big knot at one end and you were ready for action.

Cantasha Roster in Lisbon

Lets move forward quite a few years I was sitting in a Irish/Portuguese family home in Lisbon. I was staying a in an magnificent self-catering apartment in the centre of Lisbon booked on www.goholidaylets.com.  I was asked would I stay for dinner and to my surprise we had meat stuffed with chestnuts or in Portuguese  castanhas. I was once again in self-catering accommodation in Lagos for a short stay having golf in Vilamoura.  I called to a Cafe Cisne  to see owner Anna and she produced some wonderful roasted castanhas to have with my coffee.  The were excellent rich wholesome taste far cry from the Hores Chestnut congers of the Big Park In Waterford many years ago. If you have self-catering accommodation in the Algarve make sure you list free with www.goholidaylets.com

Tags. self-catering accommodation, luxury villas Vilamoura, self-catering accommodation Lagos,self-catering apartment in centre of Lisbon, Waterford, London.