The sound of chestnuts (castanhas) crashing down through branches is one that I always associate with autumn in Minho. Throughout the baking summer, we watched the thick green prickly clusters growing on large majestic trees scattered about the surrounding hill slopes wondering if they would ever ripen. By the middle of October, the clusters turned […]
Chestnut Season in Portugal Read More »
Boas Festas! Happy Holidays from Portugal! The Christmas season is upon us, and here in Lisbon, we’re celebrating the only way we know how, with delicious homemade food. All major Portuguese holidays have their own unique dishes and sweets, but Christmas is by far the most plentiful among them. From mid November onward, you can
Feliz Natal: Traditional Portuguese Holiday Cuisine Read More »
A momentous 2013 has almost come to a close, and to be perfectly honest, it’s been a good year. I’ve travelled a considerable amount, moved countries and had a son. 2013 will mark one of the most memorable years of my life. However, it’s around this time that we sit with a list of what
#inCostaBrava I saw some marvelous things Read More »
Carabinheiro and bean If you are visiting Porto, make sure to plan an evening of dining pleasure at Rui Paula’s DOP restaurant for stunning food and wine and the modern face of Portuguese gastronomic culture. Rui Paula is a name that any visitor to the Douro should be familiar with. Self-taught Chef Rui Paula is
An incredible Porto dining experience at DOP by Rui Paula Read More »
After a fantastic picnic among friends, we gathered at an outdoor café to finish the afternoon with a stiff drink called bagaço. The boys ordered two very full snifters of a crystal clear beverage that I had never heard of, nor did I have to chance to ask just how potent it was before it was
Aguardente Bagaçeira: Portugal’s Seriously Strong Wine Spirit Read More »
Portugal’s ultimate leftovers food has to be “Açorda” (pronounced ah-soar-duh). Growing up, if my mother had leftover “bacalhau, ” the next day, there was “Acorda de Bacalhau.” If she had leftover shrimp, then it was “Açorda de Camarao.” If she had too much stale bread lying around, then it was plain old bread “Açorda.” What
A Portuguese Twist on Thanksgiving Leftovers Read More »
It’s 7:30 am, the mist is rolling off the breathtaking Umbrian countryside, and the sun is breaking through the leaves. I sip on my cappuccino and stare at the enormous carcass of a 400lb pig and wonder, how are we going to butcher this enormous beast? We’re staying at a beautiful country inn, just 5km
Cutting to the Bone: The cultural nuances of butchering meat Read More »
Alheira is a smoked Portuguese sausage, (pronounced “Al – iyai -rah”), that derives its name from the Portuguese word alho, meaning “garlic”. Different from its pork-dominated counterparts, Alheira is not only filled with poultry (chicken and turkey), but also game meat (duck, rabbit, venison, partridge, pheasant): creating a mouthwatering smokey, garlicky and earthy aroma. History of Alheira Sausage Now here
Alheira: The King of Portuguese Sausage Read More »
I adore nature. Call me a tree-hugger, but I’m the girl saving spiders, running barefoot through the mud or picking up random leaves to inspect whether they have a particular aroma. I guarantee evolution would have killed me a century ago, if left to own devices. Nature is my place of rest and relaxation. And
Portugal’s Unknown Treasures: Peneda Geres National Park Read More »
Editor’s Note: In lieu of the #EWBC, Mariëlla Beukers of Wijnkronieken, has provided us a fascinating article on the untold historical influences that has made Riojan wine what it is today!! Like many of the ‘classic’ wine regions in Europe, Rioja has a long wine history dating back to even before the Romans. The Celtic
The Top 10 Untold Stories of Rioja Wine Read More »
Welcome to the Vi Jazz festival in Vilafranca del Penedés: balmy summer nights, free Jazz concerts galore, and abundant local wine in the historic center of this modest Catalán city of around 40,000 inhabitants. Dating back to the 12th century, Vilafranca is the economic engine and heart of the Penedés wine industry. While Penedés garners
History of Jazz in Catalunya, Spain Read More »
Editor’s Note: In Part I, Sonia visited some of the Douro’s enchanting wine-producing villages, took in prehistoric art at the Coa Museum with wine glass in hand, savored the rustic flavors of the Beira Interior at O Lagar, and was nearly run over by a pickup truck packed with shouting, shirtless men in the historic village of
A Tale of Two Portuguese Regions: Douro & Serra da Estrela Are Calling Part II Read More »
Imagine traveling about an hour through pitch black darkness, going to sleep not quite sure where you are at the moment—only to find yourself a few hours later waking up to intense beauty. That’s not likely how I would’ve planned it, but in the end that’s part of what made the whole experience so memorable. The
A Tale of Two Portuguese Regions: Douro and Serra da Estrela Read More »
Granted, our new writer is more focused on articles related to lactose based beverages, but soon, he’ll be craving a wide range of flavors, textures and aromas. Hence, it is with great pleasure we announce our son: Mica Douro Opaz, born July 25th at 3:39am weighing 3.095 kg and 49.5 inches long, a squishy, delightful
Catavino Welcomes a New Writer to Our Team!! Read More »
I absolutely love Portuguese fish. Whether writing or speaking, I can go on and on about the quality, freshness and simplicity of a perfectly grilled piece of fish in Portugal. It’s something I recommend everyone should experience at least once in their life. But if you had asked me not too long ago about Portuguese canned fish,
Conservas de Peixe: The Tasty but Discernible Truth Behind Canned Fish in Portugal Read More »
