Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta launches tomato‑heart menu and illustration contest

To celebrate the Douro region’s “Tomate Coração de Boi” in August, the Cantina de Ventozelo restaurant at the Ventozelo Hotel & Quinta in Ervedosa do Douro introduced a seasonal menu centered on the prized red‑fleshed tomato. The menu, available from Saturday 1 August, features dishes such as a pink cocktail, a tomato salad with sea salt and Ventozelo olive oil, a cold tomato soup with Beira sheep cheese, pork‑bísaro with tomato rice, and a baked cheese dish with tomato compote. Chef José Guedes highlighted the vineyard’s dedicated horticultural team that ensures the tomatoes are harvested at peak quality.

Alongside the menu, the hotel launched the first “Ventozelo Illustrated Tomato Contest,” inviting anyone over 18 in Portugal to submit a tomato illustration on Instagram between 1 and 15 August 2026. The three best entries will win complimentary stays and meals at the hotel.