Part of the fun of traveling (to me) is the food just waiting to be discovered. While in Portugal recently, I had the most wonderful meals...in tiny cafes, in large restaurants, alongside narrow passageways, and overlooking beautiful vistas. Here are pictures of some of the delicious meals I enjoyed. (Click on photos for a closer look.)
While in Lisbon, we walked to the nearby Pastelaria Guadalupe de Alfama for breakfast most mornings. The place was almost always packed. The ratio of bakeries to residents is extremely high in Portugal.
We sampled the Pastéis de Belém (more than once!) at the Lisbon bakery that originated the treat. The pastry has a flaky crust and egg custard filling and tastes best when it's hot from the oven, sprinkled with cinnamon. The line for the shop usually stretched out the door, and crowds filled the sidewalk in front of the blue awnings.
I took this photo in the evening before the pastry shop closed.
I love soups and stews, and Portugal's restaurants served me a delicious selection.
This traditional Portuguese dish is called a cataplana (fish stew) and is named after the copper cooking device in which it's cooked. Cataplanas are unique to the Algarve region of Lisbon.
Kale soup.
This tapas restaurant offered indoor dining or tables alongside the narrow road, overlooking the Douro River and Ponte de Dona Maria Pia bridge in Porto.
The challenge of eating at this little cafe was to stay on your chair and avoid tumbling down the slanted walkway.
This was one of the prettiest and most delicious dishes I had. The thinly sliced salmon reminded me of lox, served on bread that contains arugula (that gives it the green color), with a dollop of creme fraiche. It's served with ripe olives in the center and a splash of olive oil with herbs on the plate.
Almost all supermarkets sold slabs of salted cod. They didn't look appetizing to me!
We visited a store (conserveira) that sold nothing but fish preserved in tins--sardines, mussels, mackerel, etc., canned in various sauces and spices--as well as pâtés. One evening we opened a couple of tins and had the fish on slices of crusty bread with a bottle of wine. A feast!
A visit to Time Out Market in Lisbon offers a sampling of Portuguese cuisine. Booths line the building's perimeter, and the whole place smells divine. I had a cod croquette, beef empanada, and glass of lemonade with mint. Delicious!
With all the walking we did--up and down hills--I didn't gain any weight during this vacation. Given all the delicious food I ate, that's a miracle!
If you're a Netflix subscriber, watch the "Somebody Feed Phil" episode where he visits Lisbon.
I'm linked with:
Jo's Monday Walk - Johanna at Restless Jo - Link HERE
Our World Tuesday - Link HERE
Saturday Snapshot - Melinda at A Web of Stories - Link HERE
