A week ahead of the biggest edition ever of Chefs on Fire – taking place for the first time at Parque Marechal Carmona in Cascais on 20 and 21 of September – the latest announcements have been revealed. One of these is the Bites menu: 20 restaurants, brands, or projects presenting the best dishes the organisers have tasted over the past year.
Street Smash, which has just opened a spot in Cascais, is one of them and will showcase its Street’s Truffle Burger. Izakaya brings the gyutan katsusando; Pils takes care of the chicken wings; and Boca Linda offers tacos al pastor. You can also try smoked pork belly with grilled rabanada from Clube BBQ, smoked oysters from Aquanostra, cod cannoli from Bar Alimentar, a vegetarian Caesar salad from Gancho, grilled corn cobs by chef Rafa Louzada (who has a stall at Time Out Market Porto), toasted pumpkin pizza from Lupita, skewered coalho cheese from Queijaria, or the trio of salmorejo, pancetta, and kombujime lily from Praia no Parque.
For desserts, Cascais FoodLab reinvents Olh’á Bola Cascais with mini Berlin balls, Little Moons presents its mochis, Dona by Candeias offers a Basque tart, Único serves a selection of ice creams in various flavours, and Dobeco highlights its filled croissants – either scamorza cheese and bacon or pistachio with smoked cherry in ginja syrup and pistachio ganache.
A load of news
Chefs on Fire is all about eating, eating, eating, but there’s more going on. Another highlight is the parallel activities. This year, the Escola de Fogo by Ecogrill & Le Creuset makes its debut with a series of workshops where participants cook side by side with renowned guest chefs. Registration is via the digital ticket, allowing each person to choose one session on either day.
On 20 September, at 15.00, Kiko Martins from d’O Talho or d’A Cevicheria will teach how to prepare the perfect picanha. At 16.30, Nuno Castro, chef at Porto’s Fava Tonka, will demonstrate how temperature enhances the flavour of vegetables. At 18.00, chef Ana Moura from Lamelas in Porto Covo will present grilled monkfish, while at 19.30, José Neves from Ciclo in Cascais promises a journey to the Azores with alcatra cooked to perfection.
The programme continues on 21 September with Catarina Correia from Casa de Chá da Boa Nova in Leça da Palmeira at 1:30 pm, explaining how to control heat for tender, juicy rack of lamb. From 15.00, André Cruz of Feitoria will demonstrate techniques for cooking fraldinha on the fire. The programme closes at 16.30 with chef Diogo Formiga from Encanto, preparing a high-end vegetarian creation.
Additionally, this year Chefs on Fire strengthens its role in promoting gastronomy in Portugal with the organisation of conferences. The Fire Talks, coordinated by Paulo Amado, founder of the Congresso de Cozinha, bring together chefs, restaurant owners, and producers to discuss the central theme of the role of gastronomy in society, viewed from the perspective of those who create it.
The programme also includes the Photo Academy, led by photographer Arlindo Camacho. At a time when digital photography is in everyone’s hands via smartphones, the Photography School invites various gastronomy-focused photographers to challenge the event audience with creative tasks.
Chefs on Fire also features the Arts & Crafts Fair, curated by Vânia Rodrigues from the Matéria project. The space will bring together Portuguese brands and artisans to sell gastronomy-related products, aiming to build bridges between communities and blend the knowledge of tradition and innovation from Portugal to the world.
Tickets for this edition are already on sale, with prices ranging from €50 (daily access to the festival without drinks or food portions) to €200 (two-day pass with 15 dishes and ten drinks). There are also two daily ticket options: €85 (five dishes and two drinks) or €100 (seven dishes and four drinks). Children pay €20, which includes access to the kids’ area with tailored activities and mini-portions.
Discover the full menu and all the information already published in this Time Out Cascais guide.
Chefs on Fire, Sat-Sun 20-21 Set, 12.00-00.00. €50-€200