Taken by friends to dinner in the small village of Paderne, inland from the Central Algarve coast, we were given a real culinary surprise as an appetizer. It resembled the claws of a Komodo dragon and looked absolutely vile. It is called PECEBES (or Gooseneck Barnacles) and like a lot of things, looks are deceiving.

Considered an absolute delicacy by the Portugese this seafood is harvested from dangerous coastal rocks. Hence it is up there with lobster in the expense stakes and is a taste delight. It has the fresh zing of the ocean spray – perhaps like no other seafood I have ever eaten. It is a bit of an arm wrestle removing it from the shell! And even in its cooked state, you are liable to be squirted with the red juice of it all.

Wearing a white shirt to dinner is not a good idea.. but you will never taste anything quite like this again – so be adventurous if you ever have the chance to try these – go for it!

:: d ::