Mirandela restaurant represents Portugal in gastronomic meeting in Ethiopia
Flor de Sal is the only restaurant to represent Portugal in the Luso-Brazilian gastronomic week that runs until next Monday, in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia.
An initiative of the embassies of Portugal and Brazil, in that African country, within the scope of the Commemorations of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Brazil, and which will be focused on the regional gastronomy of Trás-os-Montes and São Salvador da Baía.
The owner of the Mirandelense restaurant reveals how this opportunity came about. “The Ethiopian ambassador was in Mirandela, in Flor de Sal, and he really enjoyed the gastronomic experience, meanwhile he also visited a wine production farm, in Vale de Salgueiro, since then he said that he was already anticipating this initiative and who would bring a Brazilian chef, so in a conversation with the Portuguese ambassador it was decided to be present and this action was developed together with the Skylight Hotel where five dinners are scheduled and two more dinners in the official residences of the ambassadors”, says Rui Paducho.
The Flor de Sal restaurant with chef Bruno Cambado is the only one to represent Portugal in this international gastronomic event that will present dishes from Trás-os-Montes cuisine. To this end, Rui Paducho advances some of the regional products that he took in his luggage. “Wines, oils, cheeses, cod cakes, Vinhais cusco with vegetables, miles with tomato, chestnut pudding and we also brought alheiras, but we had to make changes, given that we are in a country where the majority of the population does not eat meat from pork, we brought alheiras with poultry meat, mainly of perdition and rooster”.
The owner of Flor de Sal believes that this participation in the event can bring “a positive impact” to the future of the Mirandelian restaurant. We are on the way to consolidating an autonomous food strategy from Trás-os-Montes and if we can do it outside, even better”, he says.
The Flor de Sal restaurant was born in 2004 with a proposal for signature cuisine, “a novelty that caused a great impact and brought many people to Trás-os-Montes”, says Rui Paducho.
It was considered in 2005 and 2006 one of the best restaurants in the country, with the attribution of the “Garfo de Ouro” award and recommendation in the Michelin Guide. “We’ve been with Flor de Sal for a year and our bet is now very different: we’re going to the roots of Trás-os-Montes cuisine with local prices for the local customer”, he adds.
Flor de Sal’s cuisine is a tribute to the flavors of Trás-os-Montes with hints of modernity: the meats, the octopus served in an iron pot, cod, alheiras. “We’ve even created a menu just for several certified alheiras”, adds Rui Paducho.