Welcome to the final installment of Beyond the Tagus! In our first piece, I introduced the fascinating, eclectic region of Évora. We then headed south to the Baixo Alentejo for Part II , and will now conclude in the north with the stunning Alto Alentejo. Mind you, this story doesn’t kick off with a gushing adoration for the region, as it […]
Beyond the Tagus Part III: High in the Alto Alentejo Read More »
Just before the Holidays, I kicked off our three-part series on Portugal’s Alentejo region, with a trip to Évora. For the foodies and wine lovers among you, not to mention history buffs, this should not be missed! Today, however, we’ll be heading to the southernmost region, Baixo Alentejo, for a trip that’ll inspire the laid-back, country-living foodie
Beyond the Tagus Part II: Gastronomic Baixo Alentejo Read More »
I’m writing, between sips of my morning bica, from a tiny coffee shop in the sleepy Lisbon neighborhood of Lapa. I look up from my computer screen and the Tagus River opens before me. Today the river is brooding and dark, swept up by strong winds. The water is choppy. I find freedom in Portugal’s
Beyond the Tagus River: In and Around Évora – Part I Read More »
When suddenly canned seafood became trendy in Portugal, I couldn’t help but have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand: I was thrilled for the producers and its supporters as well as proud of the industry’s ability to reinvent itself. But on the other: I thought, duh only now? And, will it last? I
Portuguese Meals Anyone Can Make: Octopus Salad with Black Eyed Peas Read More »
Despite Portugal being one of the smallest countries in southern-western Europe—about the size of the state of Indiana—it is blessed with contrasting terroirs and region-specific wine varietals that result in an abundance of wine and spirits offerings. Home to the Douro Valley, the oldest demarcated wine region in the world, Portugal’s long-standing tradition in wine-making
Portuguese Wine Pack to Entertain Family without Breaking the Bank Read More »
Editor’s note: In 2009, Catavino contributor Andrea Smith dove into the origins, popularity and over-fishing of cod fish or “Bacalhau” in my native Portuguese. Today, I pick up where Andrea left off with a greater focus on how to prepare the dry, salted version of this flavorful fish, featuring four dishes and a few wines
Pairing Wines with Portugal’s Faithful Friend: Bacalhau Read More »
On cold winter evenings there’s nothing more heartwarming for this writer than a chicken roasting in the oven. The scent of herby seasonings enchant my senses and transport me to my mother’s kitchen in New Jersey where she roasts to perfection just as she learned to do back in the Old Country. In America, roasted
Pairing Portuguese Wines with Roasted Fowl Read More »
I’m pretty certain my father-in-law buys an extra dozen clams just for me each time he whips up his special recipe for the family. It’s not uncommon to catch him staring over at me as I devour mounds of the shellfish and sop up the garlicky sauce with Portuguese rolls. “Soninha, ” he says, teasingly.
Vinho Verde Wine Selection Reverts to Regional Portuguese Recipe Read More »
When drinking a Portuguese white wine, it’s difficult to encounter one that doesn’t express the lovely flavors of Arinto. Arinto’s big, compact bunches, made up of small or medium-sized yellowish berries are grown and cultivated in just about every wine region in Portugal, but happens to be the most readily available from the regions around
Arinto: The Chameleon of Portuguese Whites Read More »
There is no way I can start this post without sharing my elation that my hand is free to type. For those of you who are not in the know, I have been in a cast for exactly 78 days, as reminded to me by my doctor this morning. But now, my cast is gone,
Wine of the Week – Fitapreta Vinhos Read More »
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