Dining out
RESTAURANT OF THE MONTH CASA DE MONDO, Boliqueime
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asa de Mondo is not a restaurant in the traditional sense but one of the new breed of pop-ups that bring stylish options to an audience who want something different and delight in the whole experience of great food in a fairytale environment… and sitting with strangers who, by the end of the first course, have exchanged a bit of personal history and swapped phone numbers. Pop-ups are a trend, not just here on the Algarve, but in the world’s great capitals, too, where keen cooks with a passion for entertaining and often a wish to increase their circle of friends as well as their bank balance, have jumped on the bandwagon. Established restaurants, too, have picked up on the pop-up appeal, arranging one-off events where they can produce different food to their usual. The Casa de Mondo way adds magic to the mix. For starters, there really is a Mondo – Mondo Pena the American sculptor whose massive copper works fill the gardens, hang from the ceilings inside the house, sit beside sofas. Mrs Mondo, aka Harriett Grant Pena, is Portugal’s answer to Angel, TV presenter Dick Strawbridge’s wife, and star of TV’s Escape to the Chateau. Harriett plans events with a theme. It could be Valentine’s Day, or Thanksgiving. It could be a Mexican night, or all-American, or Turkish – you name it, and she’ll have it on her to-plan list, with detailing and décor to echo the theme. The house and gardens are a dream. In the evening there are hundreds of candles, cascades of fairy lights strung from the trees, music to match the mood. And the food... now that is sensational. We went to the Greek night. Ouzo lemonade cocktails in iced glasses rimmed with sugar on arrival in the garden. Amazing aromas from the barbecue area where meats were sizzling. The atmosphere was buzzing as the 20odd guests arrived – some practised pop-up aficionados, others new to the whole thing. We sat down for dinner. One couple on our table had grown up a few streets away from
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us in London; another had journeyed from Tavira and were staying the night in one of Casa de Mondo’s guest suites (if you ever want a few days calm and quiet, this is the place to go). Then came dinner, Greekstyle. Lavish servings of homemade hummus, tzatziki, beetroot salad, grilled halloumi, oildrenched olives, warm-from-the-oven spanakopita triangles, meatballs and crispy pitta. And that was just the first course. Another sip of ouzo, more wine, and then the mains: lamb souvlaki, meat or vegetarian moussaka, lemony potatoes and crisp Greek salad. More ouzo, and a table-vs-table quiz about all-things Greek. (We lost, but laughed a lot). Deserts – like you need another course – thick, creamy Greek yoghurt with honey and pistachio nuts, and fruit kebabs. A treat? You bet, and at ¤35 a head including wine and soft drinks, an amazing one. Call Harriett to check out forthcoming dates and book fast – satisfied diners have their names on the list already. Casa de Mondo Boliquieme T: 289 147 287 / 911 076 846 E: info@casademondo.com W: casademondo.com
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