Iberian restaurant BoBo is to commemorate one of Portugal’s most important national holidays, Republic Day on Thursday October 5, with the money going towards West Kirby RNLI’s new lifeboat.
Bobo, which serves Portuguese wine and food, is offering Pastéis de Nata – the country’s famous egg custard tart pastry – at a cut price, both as a takeaway and in-house option, with all proceeds going towards the RNLI’s fundraising efforts. Instead of £3, visitors to the venue on Banks Road will pay just £1.
Portugal’s Republic Day, also known as ‘Implantation of the Republic’ marks the overthrow of the 800-year Portuguese monarchy in 1910 in a relatively bloodless revolution, which lasted just one day. It brought about new civil and religious liberties.
Pastéis de nata were created in the 17th century by Catholic monks at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belem, Lisbon. At that time, monasteries and convents used large quantities of egg-whites for starching clothes and it became usual for the leftover egg yolks to be used in cakes and pastries.
Leigh Edmondson, BoBo’s general manager, said: “Pastel de Nata is one of Portugal’s most popular national dishes having been described as one of the 50 best things to eat in the world and which the Portuguese themselves voted as one of their ‘Seven Wonders of Gastronomy’.
“Portuguese cuisine has inspired a big part of BoBo’s menu, while the lifeboat crew and their volunteers are an important part of West Kirby life and we aim to add to their coffers and help raise the profile of their ongoing efforts. We are hoping that we sell lots of these delicious crispy custardy bakes that are the genuine article, all the way from Portugal.”
West Kirby RNLI’s current lifeboat the Seahorse is set to be retired later this year and since launching on service in 2012, it has launched 166 times, saved the lives of eight people and aided more than 200 people. Based on the promenade for more than 40 years, fundraising for a new D class inshore lifeboat started in February 2023 and they are close to the £50,000 target.
West Kirby volunteer crew member, Clare Rogers, said: “Every time we fundraise for the lifeboat our community shows us great generosity and support and that has again been the case during our lifeboat appeal. To have another business support us is great news and we are delighted that BoBo is wanting to help us in this fun way. I hope lots of people take the opportunity to buy a pastel de nata or four and boost the lifeboat fund even more.”
The cut-price dish will be served from 12-9pm on Thursday October 5.
Pictured are Leigh Edmondson, BoBo’s General Manager, with Jamie Marston and Ella Marston from West Kirby RNLI.