Recent Events

For interest, this page contains events which we have held over the last year.  It contains the description provided prior to the event and, as appropriate, some comments and photographs added afterwards.

More recent events include a 'slideshow' of photographs. The way these appear will depend on the device you are using :

Tablets (such as a Kindle) or a mobile phone -

Depending on your device you will probably see thumbnails of all the pictures, tap on any one to enlarge it then scroll as usuall on your device.

Windows computer with a browser -

Appearance will depend on your browser :

You may see below the first picture a row of thumbnails and a play button or a black bar. If a black bar appears then to access the controls for the slideshow 'hover' over the black bar below the visible photo, click the play button (extreme right) to start, click again in the same place to stop/pause the slideshow.  If you just see one picture (without black bars or thumbnails) then click on the picture to start your browser slideshow software.

SATURDAY, 8TH DECEMBER

CASA  CHRISTMAS  DINNER

with Live Entertainment

PENINA HOTEL & GOLF RESORT

7 for 7.30 pm.

Booking is now closed - we have 64 booked.

Welcome Cocktail:
Red and White Wine, Gin, Beer, Red and White Martini, Sparkling Wine, Soft Drinks, Water and Orange Juice.

CHRISTMAS BUFFET

Selection of Starters:
Dry-cured ham from Monchique and cold cuts   /   Salad of octopus, bell pepper and coriander  / Baby potato salad / Algarvian salad  /  Composed Algarvian salads    /  Pumpkin soup

Hot Main Dishes:
Casserole of wild boar and mushrooms   /    Roasted leg of lamb Algarvian style    / Codfish à Brás / Dry fruit rice  / Baker style potatoes  / Winter  vegetables
Desserts:
Assortment of Peninas ́ petits fours & mignardises    /    Dark chocolate & orange mousse / Rice & lemon zest pudding / Basket of fresh seasonal fruits / Fresh mango mousse

Musical Side Dishes

Karen and Ian Carfrae

Price per person: Members €35 and Guests €40.

To reduce administration on the evening we would appreciate if you would please Pre-Pay for this event. 

Since annual membership fees are also due now why not save effort and pay both together?

Payment details are in the November Newsletter, or contact the Treasurer.

We have been able to negotiate a reduced price of €95 for a double or €70 for a single, including full breakfast, at the hotel for the Saturday night if you are interested in staying the night.

Book via the hotel (282 420 200) and tell them you are attending the CASA Christmas Dinner.

Monday 5th November saw 36 early-rising CASA members climbing into our coach for the 2018 club trip.  This year we headed north staying for two nights in the excellent 'Hotel dos Templarios' in Tomar and then two nights in the 'Hotel Tivoli' in Sintra.  Our organised visits included the 'Convento de Christo' in Tomar, Fatima, the 'Palacio National Pena' and 'Palacio National De Sintra'.  We also managed to squeeze in visits to the 'Mosteiro de Alcobaca' and the historical town of Obidos.  All this and still leaving members some time free to explore on their own - if they had the energy!  Some of the many independent discoveries included the worlds largest collection of Matchboxes in Tomar, delectable bakery 'Alcoa' in Alcobaca and an unusual bar (Lord Byron) with excellent tapas in Sintra.  On our way back home to the Algarve on Friday we stopped for lunch at a small restaurant 'Ponto Final' on the outskirts of Sines. We were a little apprehensive as we were directed down a spiral stair into a cellar - but the mixed-grill provided was exceptional and definitely worth the diversion. We extend our thanks to both our very knowlegable official guides in Tomar and Sines and also our superb driver who got the large coach down through some very narrow places without a scratch!

On Sunday 21st October C.A.S.A. tried out a new restaurant somewhat further west than our usual haunts when 35 members met at "a Tasca do Kiko" near Lagos Marina for lunch.  We enjoyed an excellent lunch with a range of dishes including seared tuna, grilled goats cheese and garlic prawns (with a hint of heat and fresh rosemary) outside our regular lunch experience.  The modern yet welcoming décor, enthusiastic service and the delicious food conspired to such an extent that we’re sure to return to this lovely restaurant.   We would like to extend our thanks to Luis and his friendly staff for the superb service, with special thanks for the assistance provided after lunch to one of our members with vehicle problems.

Saturday 29th September

Dinner at Ponto do Encontro

(Carvoeiro)

7:00 pm for 7:30 pm

Menu choices:

Starter        Cauliflower Soup or Mixed Salad

Main           Turkey steak with mushroom sauce or

                  Bitoque da Vazia or

                  Sea bass  

Choice of Sweets on the day

Soft  drinks/ beer / wine / water

Coffee.

Members price €20.

43 members and guests met at Ponto do Encontro in Carvoeiro on Saturday 29th September for dinner. An excellent guitar player/ singer started off quietly as requested so that people could talk and catch up on their summer activities, this being our first full event of the club's autumn season.  The seating in the middle of this smallish restaurant was said by one member to be "cosy".  The service was excellent and the meal itself was felt to be good value.
To round off the evening we all joined hands and everybody put their hearts into singing Rod Stuart's "We Are Sailing" in order to say a fond farewell to members Jack & Joanne who are going back to UK to live.  A quite moving end to an excellent evening.

Before our brief summer break 34 C.A.S.A. members and guests enjoyed a 3 hour morning boat trip on the Alegria. Boarding at the Naval Club in Portimão and heading along the estuary to the open sea we then turned to the east and hugging the coast had wonderful views of the Algarve coastline along to Benagil. The skipper was amazing in his navigation, steering us into some of the caves that seemed unnavigable, birdlife was very prevalent and we were furnished with some of the history of the usage of the caves in times past. We then swung out to sea where we were lucky enough to encounter dolphins, a wonderful sight with many gasps of delight from our members.  During the return journey to Portimao members enjoyed a light buffet on-board before disembarking back at the Naval Club. Happily the sea choose that day to be blue, crystal clear and serene, all in all a wonderful excursion.

Saturday 10th February:

Lunch at Por do Sol, Alvor

12:30 for 1:00 p.m.

Members €20 Guests €22
 

Couvert

Starter:

Vegetable Soup or Mixed Salad

Main Course:

Monkfish Algarvia with almonds or

Grilled Seabream with butter & aromatic herbs or

Pork Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce or

Chicken Curry with rice

(Fish served with batatas cozida,

Meat with batata fritas & vegetables)

Sweets:

Creme Brulee or Fruit Salad

1/2 bottle wine, water, coffee included

Fifty CASA members and guests met in Alvor for lunch at the Por do Sol restaurant on Saturday 10^th February. We have used this lovely restaurant a number of times over the years as we know it to provide consistently good food and we were not disappointed. Snr. Candido and his staff were amazingly attentive and in particular they took great care with special service for our youngest attendee of just 6 years old (having her along reduced the average age considerably!).  We had several new members attending this lunch so were very pleased that everything worked well for them; in fact one of our newer members won the free raffle. The staff also displayed a great sense of humour and therefore a good time was had by all.

Saturday 20th January

at 6:30 for 7:00 p.m.

Our famous

"After Hangover" Dinner

Held this year at

Restaurant Brasserie Rosal

near Carvoeiro

As always we start the new year with a special meal for our

"After Hangover" event.  We are returning to Brasserie Rosal.

Starters
"Gambas Espanhola" - Fried prawns with peppers, onions, garlic and herbs, served in  white wine Tomato sauce
Or  Tuna carpaccio with olive oil vinaigrette and Parmesan
or   Small Antipasti plate with ham, cheese, marinated vegetables and tuna cocktail
 

Main courses
Oven braised beef and pork with a herbal mustard sauce, served with mashed potatoes and vegetables
or Oven roast Portuguese leg of lamb served with red wine sauce, sautéed potatoes and fresh vegetables
or Fried fillets of fresh Atlantic fish with olive oil and garlic served with sautéed potatoes and fresh vegetablse

Dessert
Freshly baked puff pastry with vanilla ice cream

or  Fruit Salad
or  Cheese variation

Price:  €23 members, €25 non-members. 

Includes:  Wine, Water, Beer, Coffee, Port.

Fifty members and guests met at Brasserie Rosal just outside Carvoeiro for the CASA annual 'After Hangover Dinner'. This event, the first every year for many years now, celebrates the survival of the rigors of the combined Christmas and New Year festivities; it is always highly popular with our members.  The evening went with a swing;  Andi (our host) had the place nice and warm with a blazing log fire in the main restaurant and had the forethought to have additional heaters where seating was away from the main fire.  Good food, a comfortable ambience and the opportunity to meet friends and swap details of our Christmases; difficult to beat!
We were also pleased to welcome four new members to the club at the dinner.

2017

Saturday 2nd December

Christmas Dinner

At 18:30 for 19:00

 O' Barradas near Silves

Welcome drink:

Glass rosé wine (Quinta do Barradas) and homemade paté canapes.

Couvert:

Bread, butter, carrot salad with olives,

homemade cheese crackers and beetroot creme.

Entradas:

Smoked salmon with dill dip and strawberry salad or

Pumpkin Soup with Chestnut and ginger or

Goat Cheese Tart with Figs in Moscatel.

Main courses:

Turkey Breast with sage & onion stuffing or

Fried Fish Fillet with lemon, capers and garlic or

Mediteranian Lamb with raspberry.

Dessert:

Clementine Mousse with Mango Sorbet or

Christmas Pudding and Brandy custard

Coffee, served with a mince pie

House Wines (red, white and rosé), water, soft drinks and coffee.

Members Price €28, non-members plus €2.

Dress code this year:  Let's dress it up a little,

(we've done sparkly & decorative)

if you have 'evening dress' why not flaunt it!

If not - it does not matter, come anyway.

Who knows -

there just might be a small prize to be won.

Our Christmas dinner at O Barradas on Saturday, 2nd December 2017 was much enjoyed by all 42 members attending.   We strolled through the sparkling everglade of the outside restaurant, into the cosiness of the conservatory, where the chefs in the kitchen were busy emanating delicious smells with the promise of delicious fusions to come. After our welcome drink of the superb house rosé and tasty homemade pate canapés, we were welcomed into the restaurant, log fire blazing in the hearth and clementines decorating the beautifully festive tables.  The courses were imaginative, filled with Christmas cheer and mouthwatering flavours.

Luis and Andrea have had (not surprisingly), another amazing year of great success and we were so fortunate that they ended there season with such an amazing dinner for us. The staff were all very professional, friendly and enthusiastic, serving us with speed – nothing was too much trouble.

Father Christmas made his gift bearing visit and Christmas carols were to be heard, Christmas crackers, jokes and happy sounds abounding throughout the evening.

There was indeed a prize for the best dressed woman (chosen by our host Luis) and this went to Jenny.

Sunday 19th November

Lunch at Restaurant

O' Caseiro in Arao

near Odiáxere.

12:30 for 1 pm

Members price €18

Starter:  Bread, Olives, carrots and shrimps.
Mains:   Pork in the oven with potatoes

OR        Chicken in the oven

OR        Bacalhao com natas with vegetables or salad

OR        Fish fillets with chips or boiled potatoes

                  and vegetables or salad.
Desserts to choose from at the time.
Coffee.
White or red wine, beer or soft drinks and water.

On Sunday 19th November 41 members headed out west for lunch at Restaurant O' Caseiro. All enjoyed the meal, the starters in particular were lovely. The wine flowed and overall it was a lovely lunch served by a very attentive staff, so we offer a big vote of thanks to Lionel for a superb lunch.

Thursday 26th October

Faro Catering College Lunch

Your Menu Choices:

Welcome drink.

Starter:

         Tomato cream soup with egg and pennyroyal

OR     Marinated salmon with organic salad.
Main Course:

         Filleted Hake ‘Court Bouillon’, sauce hollandaise, potato
and vegetables au sauté

OR     Pork Hock stewed Bourgeois, potato and vegetables au sauté OR     Lentils and soya burger with grilled pineapple.
Dessert:

         Tasty Chocolate mix with mint ice cream

OR     Mix of Tropical Fruit.

Red & White wine, Still water, Orange juice and Coffee.

Members price €20

Our lunch service started at 1:30 to allow members to travel to Faro by the train from Lagos arriving Faro at 12:54. A a pre-lunch welcome drink  gave the fifty of us a brief chance to greet our friends then a three course lunch was served to us by the students. Most attendees left in time to catch the 16:19 train home, a few stalwarts remained over a more leisurely coffee and to wander through the fair outside before catching the 17:15 train.  A very enjoyable day out.

Wednesday 27th September at 14:30

at Adventure Golf Near Alvor

This mini-golf is owned by the

"Black Stove" pub in Alvor

For a mere €10 (members)

A welcome drink before

A round (18 holes) MINI Golf

English Tea including scones after!

(coffee also available, as is a cash bar for other refreshments)

Limited to the first 36 bookings only

due to the course capacity.

The 24 attendees first sat outside on the patio with their welcome drink and once they were ready set off in groups of six for thier round. The course was reasonably easy to start with but got a little harder as play progressed. A great deal of entertainment was had as members negotiated dinosaurs and similar obstructions (photo's below). The weather was gorgeous and after playing everyone sat down to an 'English' tea of various filled sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream, plus cake followed by tea/coffee. The staff, Tanya & João, made us feel very welcome, so a very big thanks to them. We then presented a winners cup to David Harris for the most enthusiastic, though not necessarily highest scoring, round. The general feeling was that all enjoyed the event so much they would like to do this again next year - or sooner!

In addition to our own photo's  below a photographer took some very good pictures which can be found here on Facebook.

Return to DIARY