The concept behind the month-long ‘Allgarve Gourmet’ event is based on a series of live cooking demonstrations and sampling sessions, with food produced from Algarve-caught seafood and regional canned products, reinvented and transformed into tasty, trendy recipes by a line-up of guest-chefs. For a set fee the public can interact with the chefs, learn, ask questions, watch live demonstrations, and sample some of the concoctions that so far have included scallops with fennel and apple purée, and frozen black fig soup with Dom Rodrigo froth.

The overall aim is to consolidate the Algarve as a gastronomy-rich destination, at the same time promoting regional and local produce as well as wines and spirits. It also aims to breathe new life into long-forgotten brands and products, as well as providing fresh ideas for using local fish and fish products which have been locally canned.

Over eight days five different chefs will take centre stage in Portimão Museum, a former canning factory, of which sections have been converted into a restaurant and gourmet lounge. There is also wine bar, beer bar, water bar, café area, dining and leisure area, and a mini-stage for concerts and DJs.

Entry fees range between €10 (two sample dishes plus wine, water and coffee) and €15 (four samples dishes, plus drinks, wine, water and coffee), and includes free entry to the rest of the museum.

‘Allgarve Gourmet’ will wrap up in Portimão on July 29th and relocate to Olhão, where it will run from 10th – 15th August. It is followed by the Cataplana Experience, in Vilamoura (from September 1st – 5th). Overall, 19 renowned chefs will participate in the summer-long gourmet event.

Other famous foodie-festivals to take place in the Algarve this summer under the Allgarve banner include Portimão’s sardine festival, and the Seafood Festival, in Olhão.