Tourists and visitors to the Algarve coast are attracted by the warmth of the beaches with their white sands and by the magical way the cliffs of the western Algarve and the islets of the eastern Algarve intersect the sea.
All along this coast bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, the cataplana is recognised as an icon of the local cuisine. The expansion of the tourist industry has naturally boosted restaurant demand, and the cataplana occupies a prominent place by the doors and windows of many establishments.
Despite the cataplana’s conspicuousness in coastal areas, there continues to be widespread ignorance of the utensil, its history, role and potential in the region’s cuisine.
