Meet your host Filipa in the town of Évoramonte, where she has a country house. Évoramonte is a picturesque walled village of 500 people and offers visitors a glimpse into traditional Portuguese country life. Filipa has an old country house with an outdoor area that includes a vegetable and herb garden and olive and orange trees. She'll show you her garden and show you around this charming village. Enjoy a drink in her garden, weather permitting, before beginning your meal. Filipa will prepare traditional simple country-style Portuguese dishes that highlight the region's culinary history. Depending on the season, she might serve dishes like rose-infused sheep’s milk cheese, açorda alentejana (a simple soup typical of the Aliejtej region of bread mixed with coriander and water), black and white pork, and seasonal vegetable dishes. Your meal will end with a dessert such as queijada, which she buys from a local shop that has been making the traditional sweet cheese pastry for generations. Dessert will be served with tea or coffee.
If you don’t have a car, Filipa can arrange transportation from Évora to her home in Évoramonte (30-minute drive) for an additional cost. To book, simply add the transportation option to your reservation.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Appetizers: Marinated olives, Smoked Sausage Butter, Rosemary Infused Sheep CheeseSoup: Açorda Alentejana - Regional Soup (Bread, Egg, Garlic, Herbs)Main: Marinated PorkSide: Migas Alentejanas - Two different savory traditional puddings made of bread, potato or tomatoDessert: a typical dessert, such as Queijada Tea or coffeeVisit Filipa for a taste of the Alentejo region at her family’s country home in the village of Évoramonte, 30 minutes outside of the town of Evora. Filipa’s food highlights seasonal ingredients and local produce. Historically, Alentejo was a poor region of the country and people ate what they grew. This resulted a regional cuisine with humble roots but a strong diversity of flavors due to the heavy use of herbs. Filipa's goal is to teach travelers the rustic country fare typical of the region, including the many herbs used in its dishes that she grows in her own garden. Filipa comes from a family with a strong cooking tradition and learned how to prepare Portuguese family recipes from both of her grandmothers and aunts. When she is not cooking, Filipa is a digital marketer who loves to travel. Her passion and excitement for cooking and the culinary world are infectious and you are sure to leave her home with a new appreciation and understanding of Portuguese culture and cuisine.
Please note that this experience changes with the times of year. The best months for the garden are May and June. In July and August it can get very dry and hot, and some of the crops may be pruned down. In the winter months it can get quite cold and the experience will be held inside; Filipa has a wood fire that she can use for heat but it is an old home and we advise wearing layers in the winter months. We recommend this experience most in the warm summer months when you can truly enjoy the gardens and outdoor country life.
"When you arrive at Filipa's home you are greeted by a beautiful view of the surrounding area and treated to a traditional Portuguese home with small doorways and few windows which allow the insides to remain cool. If you are seated outside you will be sitting in the shade of a beautiful old olive tree. Filipa is a beautiful person inside and out with a serious passion for food. She ensures all of her dishes are traditional Portuguese-Alentejo cuisine and you treated to a series of appetizing smalls dishes introduced by a lovely Portuguese cordial drink. My favorite starter was the Baked sheep's milk cheese which has a soft yet flavorful taste. Filipa continued to entertain us with interesting tales of how the recipes came about. All the food was simple yet delicious and prepared solely by Filipa. The experience is relaxing and enjoyable, it will take about 3 hours in total but it is well worth it!"
"Filipa was very warm and welcoming, and shared her home with us. She shared the
history of the area and cooked a lovely meal for us for our anniversary! It was a wonderful
celebration in Portugal!"
"Our evening with Filipa was the highlight of our vacation to Portugal. She is a warm and funny hostess, and could answer any question we had about Portugal, the region, Evora, farming, history, and culture. Dinner was traditional yet gourmet, and was outstanding! We were very comfortable and happy (and full!).
Filipa worked on the menu with us beforehand to accommodate a food allergy, and she picked us up in nearby Evora and drove us to her house in Evoramonte for dinner. The first course included olive oil (for dipping) that came from the olive trees on her property. The second course was melted sheep's milk cheese accompanied by jam, mangoes, and crackers. The main dish was flavorful and tender slow-cooked black pork and an amazing potato puree. Dessert was a local pastry (queijada). Each course was served with an excellent wine (which she explained the nuances of, at our request) or liqueur.
It was a wonderful experience and we give Filipa our highest praise. We highly recommend this dining experience to everyone!"
"I trouly recommend this experience. The location is genuine and gorgeous. The food is prepared perfectly and the flavours are amazing. There is nothing else like this in or around Lisboa. My sugestion? Take a day to discover nearby town Evora and stay the night. Felipa will pick you up and drop you of in town after dinner."
