We find ourselves in a luxury resort (Monte Rei Golf & Country Club) in the eastern Algarve, where they say the best golf course in Portugal can be found, and which deserves a range of cuisine to match! The elegant dining room, in a classic style with large windows overlooking the surrounding greenery, boasts just a few impeccably set tables, along with one reserved for private dining in the kitchen area. The concept, created by Chef André Simão, is based on a single tasting menu (Do Mar à Serra [“From the Sea to the Mountains”]), with two pairing options, making a concerted effort to work with the region’s raw ingredients and local small-scale producers (Tavira oysters, Vila Real de Santo Antonio muxama [salt-cured tuna], the famed Algarve violet prawn, sourdough bread with Monterosa olive oil, goat’s milk from the near-extinct Castro Mirim...). We loved the scarlet prawn dish with Algarve orange and bisque!