Inside Algarve Magazine – Algarve News

Category: News

Lagos Intermarché’s house-made cookies are a cosy treat for the colder months

Fresh out of the oven

– December 7, 2023 | Inside Sponsored Content

The leaves are falling, and the air is cooler; winter calls for a cosy treat. To celebrate the season, there is nothing better than the cookies made in-house at Lagos Intermarché.

Produced exclusively in the shop and made with care by the talented team in the pastry section, these cookies are truly special – from the preparation of the dough to the attentive packaging. The pastry team at Lagos Intermarché can make more than 14kg of cookies in a single morning, without compromising on the quality of the product. The dough used as a base for all the cookies consists of flour, eggs, butter and sugar, without preservatives or any other additives.

These cookies are made with ingredients that capture the essence of the season, so this is the perfect time to enjoy a steaming cup of black, green or red berry tea that perfectly complements the sweet flavour of the cranberry and white chocolate cookies. If you prefer a cup of latte or an espresso, they are also perfect to go with the chocolate and walnut cookies or the triple chocolate cookies. The contrast between the coffee and the chocolate flavour makes for a delicious combination, whilst the flavour of the milk enhances the texture and taste of the almond cookies, creating a comforting snack.

For an even more special treat, you can make a “sandwich” with the chocolate and walnut cookies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating an irresistible combination of different temperatures and textures. The triple-chocolate cookies can also be crumbled and added as a topping to yoghurt for a quick and delicious dessert.

Tel: 282 780 760 | www.lojaonline.intermarche.pt

December 7, 2023
Baptista Supermarket has everything you need to make your Holidays easier

‘Tis the season

– December 7, 2023 | Inside Sponsored Content

The holidays can be a stressful period. Between shopping for gifts, hosting family and friends and thinking of all the food that needs to be prepared, there is little time to get everything ready. But Baptista is always ready to help. At the Luz supermarket, owner Rui Baptista is always focused on making clients’ lives easier by developing new services and providing the best products in a convenient way. Here, you will find a wide selection of wine, both Portuguese and international, spirits, old whiskeys, the finest Champagne, traditional liqueurs and a wide choice of beers and ciders.

As for the all-important food, the Luz family supermarket stands out for the quality and variety it offers, including a full range of gourmet delights. Baptista specialises in organic meat and can offer lamb, veal, turkey and chicken, all guaranteed as organically raised and fed. Their butcher makes sausages and prepares gammon on the premises.

And to round the Yuletide menu, how about some traditional cakes and pies? With a full range of Christmas cakes, mince pies and Christmas puddings complete with brandy sauce, custard and cream, Baptista sells a host of delights that pile on the calories. You can also find international specialities, such as panettone and stollen cakes. Dried fruits, fine chocolates and other treats offer further temptation.

Place your orders at info@baptista.shop or call 282 780 300/ 282 780 303.

December 7, 2023
Portimão’s Christmas Season is in full swing

This year’s Christmas parade in Portimão has been a success and many more events are to follow until the end of the holiday season

– December 7, 2023 | Text & Photos Beatriz Maio

Photo by Beatriz Maio

Over 100 people took part in a Christmas parade to mark the start of the festive season in Portimão on Friday (December 1).

Led by Santa and Mrs. Claus, the parade also featured a wide range of colourful Christmas characters brought to life by actors, dancers and musicians.

Photo by Beatriz Maio

The parade started at the old fish market building (Lota), where the town’s ‘Toy Factory’ is located, and continued towards the Manuel Teixeira Gomes square, where Santa’s House was inaugurated.

The parade then proceeded towards Alameda, where a 200sqm ice rink is set up, along with the Christmas Stage where live music performances are held and the immersive LED Planetarium, the big novelty of the town’s Christmas entertainment this year.

Photo by Beatriz Maio

Filipa Goulart, an Azorean who lived in Portimão for 20 years, takes part as a dancer every year in Portimão’s festive entertainment, which she describes as “something wonderful that gives everyone the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas, through lighting, decorations and entertainment, all for free”.

“Children love seeing the arrival of Santa Claus, and parents too,” the dancer said, praising the local council for putting together an entertainment programme that “offers diversity with parades, shows, and activities that lead to many smiles”.

Photo by Beatriz Maio

There are several activities included in this year’s festive programme, entitled ‘Portimão – Um Sonho de Natal’ (Portimão – A Christmas Dream), for both children and adults. Running until January 6, the programme features more than 50 shows and 30 spots around the borough which have been decorated with Christmas lights, including the local shopping streets, Largo da Mó, Alameda, the 1º de Dezembro garden, and Manuel Teixeira Gomes square.

Some of the highlights of the programme include the Christmas Market, which takes place at the 1º de Dezembro garden, featuring 10 stands selling local handicraft and other regional products, as well as a Christmas train which runs along the town’s central streets and a life-size nativity scene at Largo da Mó.

The full programme is available online at https://portimaosonhodenatal.pt

December 7, 2023
It’s ‘Christmas Joy’ time in Silves

‘Christmas Joy’, Silves’ annual Christmas event, returns this year to Al-Mutamid Square with a wide range of festive entertainment

– December 6, 2023 | Text Michael Bruxo

Opening today (December 6) and running until January 7, the event will feature a ramp leading to a ball pit, a carousel, a Christmas train, mechanical animals, a Christmas market, Christmas-themed sets where visitors can take photographs, and a wide range of live performances from music to theatre.

The event will be open every day from 2pm to 8pm, except on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when it will close earlier at 6pm.

Silves’ Christmas celebrations would not be complete without an appearance by Santa Claus, who will be visiting Armação de Pêra’s fortress on December 9 at 3pm and the Al-Mutamid square in Silves on December 16 at 4pm.

“Silves invites all children and families to experience the joy of Christmas, sharing unique moments and unforgettable experiences in this space marked by entertainment, colour, good humour, magic, and Christmas spirit,” it adds.

December 6, 2023
Vitra Clinic has welcomed to its team a General Practitioner and a Speech Therapist

Complementary care at Lagoa’s “reference clinic”

– December 5, 2023 | Text Beatriz Maio

The Vitra Clinic dental centre, in Lagoa, has extended its services to new areas. From now on, clients will be able to book General Family Medicine, Non-invasive Aesthetics, and a Speech Therapy appointment, all in the same space.

Ana Pragosa & Sérgio Sousa

This is an idea that the founders, Ana Pragosa and Sérgio Tavares de Sousa, had when they projected the facilities, therefore, the dentist’s office has a room available only for this purpose, which will be shared by Speech Therapist Tânia Francisco and General Practitioner Ângelo Afonso, who will also provide cosmetic services such as botox and medical facial peelings.

“The GP and Speech Therapy appointments are for all ages and can be booked any day,” explained Doctor Ana, stressing the importance of having multiple services at the clinic.

“We consider this addition to be an added value, making everything easier, closer, and more immediate,” she shared, adding that this will contribute to an effective and personalised care.

Being “a reference clinic” is the aim of the owners who want to “give families a complete response” by creating a connection between dentistry and basic health issues, which also makes it possible to regularly monitor children’s growth.

“All these services can complement each other and work as a whole,” concluded Doctor Ana.

Follow Vitra Clinic on Instagram and Facebook.

December 5, 2023
Lagoa to host European Cross Country Championships in 2025

After a “rigorous selection process and multiple visits to the region” the European Athletics placed their trust in Lagoa

– December 4, 2023 | Text Michael Bruxo

James Lee – Unsplash

Lagoa has been chosen to host the 31st European Cross Country Championships in December 2025.

“Following a rigorous selection process and multiple visits to the region, European Athletics placed their trust in Portugal, specifically in Lagoa, marking Portugal’s fourth time hosting the European Cross Country Championships,” Lagoa Council says in a statement to the press after the announcement.

“Lagoa has once again been chosen to host a major sports event, this time on a European scale, having been recognised for its ability to host and organise significant events and for the ideal conditions available in the region for sports and accommodating thousands of visitors, including teams from various participating countries, athletes’ families, members of the media, and sports enthusiasts,” it adds.

Lagoa will become the fourth town in Portugal and second in the Algarve to host the championships, after Oeiras in 1997, Albufeira in 2010, and Lisbon in 2019.

“This presents a fantastic opportunity for Lagoa to develop the necessary infrastructure for hosting both national and international cross-country events. The planning and construction for the 2025 European Cross Country Championships are already underway,” the council guarantees.

Meanwhile, Lagoa Mayor Luís Encarnação has described the announcement as a moment of great satisfaction. “We have long aspired to host an event of this magnitude. It will undoubtedly be a significant challenge, but Lagoa is up to the task,” he said.

December 4, 2023