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Faro, Portugal |
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Society - Extraordinary |
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| March - 2005 |
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6
Stars & 5 Stripes
Overall - 'Cuisine & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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"A Thousand and One Nights", the most famous
literary product of a classical Islamic civilization serves as the intriguing
backdrop to this inspired, provocative eatery, "The Aladin Grill".
The
essential quality of these tales lies in their success in interweaving the
unusual, the extraordinary, the marvelous, and the supernatural into the fabric
of everyday life. It is apparent that these qualities are reflected in the
resourcefulness and quiet confidence of Executive Chef Kurt Gillig, as he works
his gifted wizardry with style and composure. |
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Upon entering the
restaurant and sneaking a quick peek into the well laid out kitchen, I was
amazed to see that Chef Gillig's talents relied on modern equipment and not a
"Genie in a lantern".
Our 3hr dinner was an exceptional display of
wonderment and creativity supported by the professional, caring service of
waiter Paulo Rodrigues and sommelier Artur Rodrigues.
We pondered major
decisions that included choosing from 22 different types of house baked breads,
fresh farm raised beef from Vila Vita Parc's own ranch and organically grown
fresh garden vegetables that are produced on premises. |
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Thorsten Piosczyk & Kurt Gillig |
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I glanced sideways towards Simone as the continuous
flow of hearty Portuguese wines delivered the necessary element required to
totally forget the outside world. "We have arrived in paradise" was Simone's
response to my nudging her under the table. We listlessly leaned against each
other after each magnificent cuisine and wine course. We were informed by the
sommelier about how the wine cellar was custom built brick by brick, brought in
form Europe and reconstructed in an ancient cistern underground.
Our
interest was peaked for a wine cellar tour but Simone demanded a long walk on
the nearby beach and perhaps a spontaneous plunge into the golden moonlit
Atlantic of the Algarve. |
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"Happiness found in fine dining, is the result of
several courses prepared
and served to perfection." ~ Thorsten Piosczyk
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by Simone Buehrmann & Thorsten Piosczyk
Editor-in-Chief:
John Lomitola
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