Delicious food at the Restaurante O Arco da Velha in Alvor … never a truer word spoken … or written as the case may be. If you have never visited this little gem of a town in the Algarve, Portugal, well then you are seriously missing out. It’s a small fishing town with it’s own harbour and it is gorgeous both by day and by night. And if you have never eaten in this wonderful restaurant… consider your life incomplete and unfulfilled! They are couple and family friendly too!
As you approach the restaurant, you are greeted the welcoming, friendly, mustachioed Ricardo – the Owner who also works magic at the Grill all evening (and Oh how I mean that!!!). He always wears a big smile and it’s his sincerity that comes through in his manners to all the customer that makes you want to give him a big hug. OK… I think it’s clear that I like Ricardo 🙂 He is part of an amazing team of course – his lovely wife Josephine works in the kitchen inside and they run a system like clockwork. And the food… Oh My Oh My Oh My THE FOOD!!!! I have only just returned from Alvor and I am already having withdrawal… the food is simply prepared, simply served and simply…divine. There is also the handsome and charming Marco, who manages the Restaurant and service which is always excellent. The fact that their clientele consists of locals and tourists – mostly repeat customers – returning for the food and the welcome they receive each visit speaks for itself – just check out the reviews on TripAdvisor! It’s not just me!!
Fresh local fish is key to the menu in O Arco da Velha – Seabass, Stonebass, Seabream, Red Mullet, Squid, Prawns… whatever has been caught fresh will be on the menu. As I said the key here is simplicity – with these kinds of treasures available what else could 
you do. However, don’t mistake simplicity for easy. The skilled staff are amazing at what they do. From Ricardo ♥ on the grill cooking each different piece of fish to perfection or meat separately on the meat grill, to Josephine in the kitchen with other staff cooking vegetables to perfection, creating delicious salad, preparing starters such as baby squid in garlic and chilli oil (Oh My God…these are so completely YUMMY!!!), Prawns in garlic oil (also Delicious!) to various other delicious options. Or you can opt for Covers which include carrots in garlic, olives, sardine and tuna pate (both gorgeous) , local cheese (really tasty) with crusty bread… I’ve probably tasted most of the menu by now and there’s nothing I haven’t liked yet!
Mains also include meat dishes such as steak, chicken and lamb (which many of my extended family members have sampled to their great delight) or rice dishes such as Cataplana. I always go for the fresh fish though – it’s so good here there’s really no other choice for me. You make your fish choice from the fresh selection of the day and your fish will be shown to you so you can see it’s freshness and beauty. Then it is delivered to Ricardo ♥ to work his magic! The flavour when it comes off the grill is so moreish and it is served with big wedges of lemon – I am seriously making myself so hungry as I type this!! It also comes with garlic butter – the real thing with chunks of garlic for you garlic-lovers out there!! Each fish is expertly de-boned by Marco or one of his staff before serving to your table. The choice of sides are rice, potatoes, chips and vegetables or salad from the kitchen – always fresh and always delicious. Desserts range from Strawberries and cream to icecreams to Tiramisu (Scrumptious!) to more traditional Portuguese delicacies such as Almond tart (Oh So Yummy!).
They have a great selection of wines to choose from but I’m going to share our favourite with you – a deliciously, fruity and flavourful red called Chaminè. Marco will make recommendations depending on your taste, if you wish, but he knows this is our go to tipple 🙂 And of course, you should give the Green Wine a try while in Portugal – crisp, fresh, ice cold – it’s a refreshing alternative to white for a change.
At the end of the meal, it’s not all bad news either… along with the very reasonable bill comes complimentary port for all the adults… never though I would be a Port person but I am!! It’s yummy!
And so… we always leave with satisfied bellies and smiles on our happy faces…
You can’t really knock that now… can you?
Get yourself to Portugal… to Alvor… you won’t regret it!
Note: Photos all my own with the exception of the Restaurant front which is from O Arco Da Velha’s Facebook page @RestauranteOArcoDaVelha
Aran Islands off the coast of Galway in the West of Ireland at the beginning of July. Let me tell you, without doubt, it is one of the most wonderful places on this earth. If you haven’t been – you must visit. If you have been – then you know exactly what I’m talking about. I was there with my two boys, Jack and Daniel (and before you ask, it wasn’t a deliberate decision to name them after my favourite bourbon…Cross my heart!! 😉 ) and we were sharing a house with a friend and her daughter.
here from Dublin to marry an Islander Paidraic. What a change in life? Yes indeed but she loves it!! They have three beautiful children and she absolutely loves living on the Island. Paula is like my Earth Mama… she bakes beautiful cakes and breads, she cooks sensational food and she is a Reiki Practitioner. She also writes from her soul (Blog @donkeyshindlegs check her out or you’re seriously missing out). Don’t get me wrong – she gets frustrated and pissed off like any of the rest of us. And I know there are times when having three kids and a very Quiet Man must be exhausting and exasperating but she has found her Zen. She is the most wonderful, caring and patient Woman though (I know you’re going to read this Paula so just a reminder…you’re the whole package!!) and…she is my wonderful, sexy, beautiful BFITWWU!
The Island itself is a thing to behold…rugged beauty hewn from rock and etched in luscious greens and smoked silver greys. The island is around 3km x 3km with rolling hills (that sometimes feel like Croagh Patrick but they are so far from it, in truth!!) and really, it’s easily covered by foot or by bike (a word of caution if cycling however, the hills, though small are steep and can be a recipe for disaster for children on bikes even with helmets – I’ve witnessed numerous visits from the Air Ambulance helicopter!). Taking a stroll around to the lighthouse or out to the shipwreck of the Plassy (seen on the intro to the wonderful Father Ted) lets you see Inis Oirr in all it’s diversity come alive. The uniquely built walls hugging the narrow roads leading past Aras Eanna – the Arts Centre on the Island (another must see) takes you through the Island around small high walled fields with perhaps one or two cattle with calves within. And the sunsets… Sweet Mother of Divine!! They are to die for! The colours are exceptional and on a clear day, I really mean it, you can can see forever across the golden lit sea.
I lived in New York for a few years and subsequently spent a few Christmases away from home. Not my most memorable but I will say they weren’t completely miserable, with the exception of one. And even that wasn’t completely miserable but it was pretty damn close. I was living with 3 sisters, one of whom is one of my closest friends from secondary school. I loved living with the girls; Owl, Woolie, Minnie and me (Crabby – obviously no reflection on my happy go lucky demeanour! 🙂 ). Our two bed apartment in Queens 
was a temple of femininity and giggles (and our fair share of frustrations and all that). The girls were all living in the US with green cards. I, however, was not and didn’t have the flexibility to travel home for Christmas. My family at home decided that they didn’t want me to be alone this particular year and much to my protest, elected to send my brother John over to me for two weeks (whether he wanted to or not, I should add). John’s about 18 months older than me and at that stage, was pretty much in his own world of alcohol and rage and being in New York for Christmas was not on his bucket list. Anyhoooooo, we made it to Christmas day in one piece, more or less… and by the luck of the Gods, we made it out the other side!! 😀 We were joined by another guy, a friend of the girls, Joe Woolhead, who was on his own for Christmas too.
somewhere else. I entered the kitchen and prepared my turkey…plopped it into the roasting tin on a base of carrots, onions and celery and seasoned it – covered it in tinfoil and into the oven. I tried to make my Mam’s stuffing and it was just like it, that is if my Mam’s stuffing is dry, sawdust like with no flavour!! My roast potatoes weren’t actually that bad, thanks be to Jaysus!! And my carrots and parsnips were grand, nothing to write home about! Joe arrived with his packet of biscuits and we watched some telly while the turkey finished cooking.
breast and thought to myself ‘Well done Crabby! This doesn’t look too bad’ It smelled lovely too. I went in for the second…thinking Hmmmm that looks ok… then the third and my stomach lurched. My heart started beating rapidly…I couldn’t actually carve the third slice all that easily and I could plainly see that it was still frozen!!! Holy F*CK!!! ‘Alright in there Incey??’ called John from the sitting room (my family nickname). I gulped and croaked in reply ‘Yeah…Grand… two minutes and you’ll be feasting like Kings!!’ Straight away, I thought to myself…What the hell am I talking about???
The Ravenous Woman 