On October 3rd, Quinta do Paral will host the third of four chef-led dinners that bring together gastronomy, art and wine, featuring renowned chefs, artists and leading names from Portugal’s wine scene. For this Autumn edition, Quinta do Paral welcomes three names who have elevated their crafts through a consistent pursuit of authenticity, rooted in provenance and excellence in Portuguese savoir-faire.
Chef Michele Marques, from Mercearia do Gadanha in Estremoz, reinterprets Alentejo cuisine through a contemporary approach, deeply connected to the region and its producers. Anselmo Mendes, one of the most influential figures in Portuguese winemaking, has spent decades revealing the full potential of Alvarinho, helping establish this grape variety as an international reference. Vasco Serapicos, meanwhile, preserves the tradition of artisanal leatherwork, where each piece is shaped by time, precision and the attention to detail that define true craftsmanship.
Three distinct worlds come together at the table at Quinta do Paral, alongside CEO and winemaker Luís Morgado Leão and Chef José Gala, for a new edition of “4 Estações”, where wine, gastronomy and art intersect naturally, united by a shared vision: valuing provenance, celebrating craftsmanship and keeping Portuguese culture alive through its protagonists.
The “4 Estações” dinner series began in Spring, on 21 March, with the aim of celebrating national culture through its protagonists, in the region that gives it its identity: the Alentejo.
The first edition featured Chef Rui Paula, awarded two Michelin stars and responsible for Casa de Chá da Boa Nova and DOC, in Porto; musician Luís Trigacheiro; and winemaker Sandra Tavares da Silva, representing Wine & Soul, a producer from the Douro region.
The Summer edition, held on 2 May, brought together Chef Diogo Rocha, from the one-Michelin-starred Mesa de Lemos restaurant in Viseu, the wines of Quinta dos Roques and Mozambican writer Mia Couto. It was an encounter where gastronomy, wine and the written word came together in a celebration of summer designed to be experienced at the table, through wine and literature.
The final edition of the series, dedicated to Winter, will take place on 28 November, bringing a year of encounters to a close and seeking to bring together different expressions of Portuguese culture through gastronomy, wine and art. The remaining guests will be announced soon.
According to Maria Pica, Commercial Director of Quinta do Paral, “We enjoy welcoming people, we enjoy creating, and we want everyone who visits us to feel at home, to join us for another unforgettable moment where everyone takes part and leaves their own signature. Quinta do Paral is a place to stay and create memories that remain engraved in the soul,” she comments.
Starters:
Seared scallop, black pork, crispy green beans – Chef José Gala
Grilled mushrooms with alguidar emulsion, crispy potato – Chef Michele Marques
Fish:
Dogfish, coriander, rice paper, lobster medallion and sea grapes – Chef José Gala
Meat:
Iberian pork presa, roasted cauliflower purée and garden greens – Chef Michele Marques
Pre-Dessert:
Antão Vaz grape must ice cream with chickpea pudding and yuzu lemon – Chef José Gala
Dessert:
Apple and pennyroyal – Chef Michele Marques
Dishes paired with a carefully selected range of wines
Anselmo Mendes & Quinta do Paral
INFO: quintadoparal.com