Bailliage members and guests met for lunch at Vila Joya’s new beach restaurant, “SEA”. Such was the interest in participating that the event was fully booked not long after being publicised.

The bar/restaurant itself is beautiful and cool with white lacquered wood and beige fabrics. It oozes charm, exclusivity and relaxed comfort.

Since it opened in May this year, this luxury haven has acquired quite a reputation for serving top class light dishes, tapas-style.

Accordingly, we were treated to a variety of small plates:
- freshest of oysters with apple and ginger
- “toro” tartare and nigiri sushis by their Japanese Chef
- Burrata from Italy
- perfectly grilled flank-steak with chimi churri from Argentina

Two superb desserts concluded the menu. One was of tropical fruits, coconut foam and mango sorbet, the other a chocolate cream with caramel ice-cream and banana. They were the perfect end to a superb summer luncheon on the beach!

For the drinks, sparkling sangria was served to start with, followed by a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from Casa Santa Eulalia in the Minho and a red Touriga Nacional from the organic vineyards of Julia Kemper in the Dão region. Great choices by the sommelier!

The staff members are obviously trained at the Vila Joya’s Michelin 2-star establishment next door as the service was faultless and smiling.

Many thanks were proposed for Maître Hotelier Joy Jung, the passionate owner of Vila Joya, who organised this fantastic lunch for us. We were also most appreciative of our kind host for the day, Sue Reitz.

Jean Ferran
Chargé de Missions (and Bailli Provincial of South of the Tagus)