COOKING

In a region where gastronomic history is so dense and made of countless layers, we have been inspired by the flavors, the ways of cooking and the products of the region.

In our kitchen we’re always open to teach everything we know, but also to learn from those who come to us. Here we all give a little of who we are, so that more than a simple hotel stay this can be a true gastronomic experience. To do this we count on the years of experience and dedication of our team to the Alentejo cuisine, from mastering the art of making bread to the Cocaria cooking tradition.

Every month our Chef team opens our kitchen, in a journey through the gastronomic origins, helping you to handle the most elemental cooking bases. From a monthly workshop calendar, in which you’ll stimulate your senses with our aromatic herbs, learn to cook the region’s famous migas de pão or how to knead the pizza dough with your children, to cooking lesson or themed weekends, we assure you’ll get what you need to wow your friends and family during a meal at home.

Come visit us and get your hands dirty.

Cooking ACADEMY

Creativity bears more fruit when shared. Why not invite a friend or family member and sign up for our cooking classes? For a maximum of 4 people per class, we cover various kitchen topics, from which knives are best for each type of food and cut – and how to use them without running the risk of cutting our fingers, the secrets of national sweets or from traditional Portuguese cuisine to a journey through international cuisine. The next time they ask you for sweet rice for dessert or rissoles for starters, you will be able to surprise and leave everyone wanting more.

See our classes and conditions below.

Hortense's Table

Our dinners taste different!
Sit down at the table and indulge yourself with the delicious food prepared by our very own Hortense. Tasting of Alentejo dishes, with seasonal ingredients directly from our partners, respecting and promoting tradition and what nature has to offer.

Cocaria

Recreating a meal traditionally eaten by farm workers, cooked over a fire using local products.
Learn how to make this traditional meal the local way using seasonal products.

Lamb stew

Learn how to make a classic of Alentejo cuisine with our cooks.

Fish stew

We go to the market to choose the fish for this dish and all the ingredients that are part of the stew. We return to the hotel and make the fresh fish stew for lunch.

Hortense's Rice Pudding

Do you know where to find the best rice pudding in the Alentejo? It's here at the Octant Santiago and Hortense makes it. Learn how to prepare it and make a splash when you get home.

The different Açordas

Açorda is a soup made by scalding the ingredients.
A hot, clear broth flavoured with coriander or pennyroyal, or both, crushed garlic with sea salt, and seasoned with olive oil. Slices or chunks of wheat bread, preferably home-made and hard, give it consistency. Make two açordas and learn the differences between them: Açorda Alentejana

Pizza

Have you ever made a pizza in a wood-fired oven?
Here at the Octant Santiago you can learn how to make a real pizza from scratch.

Wine tasting

Taste the different wines from our wine cellar.

Conditions: Book in advance via email at reservations-santiago@octanthotels.com or [ONLINE]. For groups larger than 4 people, please contact the hotel. Cooking lessons may be changed without prior notice.