I have seldom had more fun eating than at Fernandos Stone Steak house, in Carvoeiro, Portugal. Maybe it was the fact I was on holiday - maybe it was the company - maybe it was the freely flowing Portugese beer - but I didn't think that going to a restaurant and then essentially preparing and cooking your own dinner was going to be a barrel of laughs.
But it was.
It works like this: you are presented with a very hot stone slab, and some raw meat of your choice. The meat can also be prepared with various marinations and methods, but the underlying theme is that it's ready to be cooked. Add a dash of the sauce of your choice, a small amount of garlic butter to the slab (and watch in horror as the table is surrounded by acrid smoke) slice off a little meat, and get cooking.
I chose the medley selection, consisting of chicken, pork and steak. All of the meat was fantastic - not an ounce of fat or gristle to be seen. The steak was wonderful - the very fact you could control each tender mouthful - one rare, the next well done, and then apply the sauce of your choice.
There were 10 of us at the restaurant - and the waiters were open and friendly. For a while we tried to work out if the owner was German, but then, distracted by some fantastic garlic prawns, the topic was dropped.
If you are holidaying in the area - it's worth making a trip to Carvoiero and Fernandos. The atmosphere was lovely, and you'll find your meat cooked to perfection. read more
