Chadner Navarro recently published a fantastic article in Bloomberg highlighting why Porto is surpassing Paris as “the” shopping capital of Europe. There’s a good reason for it. Porto isn’t just an architectural wonder, with its technicolored tiles and vaulting domes, it’s a hotbed of creativity! Just hang out at a party for a few minutes and […]
Why is Porto Overtaking Paris for Shopping and Design 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 »
In this last installment of our three-part series on the undiscovered inland foods of Portugal (Part I & Part II), we pick apart the fruits that give the country some of its most luscious cherries and pears as well as premium olive oil. And though it’s one of the lesser-known wine regions of Portugal, there’s
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part III Read More »
The interior of Portugal is, unfortunately, often overlooked. That’s too bad, especially for foodies searching for unique eats beyond the mouthwatering fish and seafood on the coast and the regional dishes that the bustling cities recreate. Granted, I understand that driving into the mountains of Portugal or through windy, ancient villages isn’t as easy as
The Undiscovered Inland Cuisine of Portugal – Part I Read More »
Your visit to Spain need not take on the predictable pace of one city on Tuesday, then bolting to a new city on Wednesday, with one too many museums (and perhaps a little party island hastily thrown in at the end to catch a quick sunburn) before jetting back to cooler climates. Big cities like
Five Small Towns in Spain Every Foodie Needs to Visit! Read More »
There isn’t a home or professional kitchen in Spain that doesn’t stock olive oil. Its omnipresence is ubiquitous. Similar to the French passion for butter, we adore this unctuous, golden liquid! One of the best ways to experience Spanish oil is during breakfast. While a sweet pastry is still appreciated, most of us are unconditionally loyal to “Pan, Aceite y
6 Tips to Guarantee Fresh and Delicious Olive Oil Read More »
Portugal is brimming with history, tradition and an abundance of natural resources, mainly of the edible variety! I’ve lost count of the number of nut, cork and olive trees; the vast amount of grapevines and vegetable gardens capable of growing in every nook and cranny; clear rivers and streams teeming with life and herds of
Shopping In Portugal: Top 5 Gourmet Portuguese Products for Travel Read More »
Fire up the barbecues and grab your friends. No, it is not Memorial Day weekend or a celebration of the first day of spring. Winter marks the time of year when Cataluña celebrates the almighty calçot. It is no secret that Catalans love to party, and the annual calçotada is just one more excuse to
The Calçotada: From Spain to Your Backyard Read More »
When I was growing up, my mother each evening began with a bowl of soup. Sometimes, I would fuss about it like any kid who just wants to get to the main course. My mother would say, “So uma concha,” which means, just one ladle of soup (she always slyly added more despite my moaning
Portuguese Soup: Recipes during the Chilly Winter Months Read More »
Editor’s note: In Part I, we quelled our ‘saudade’ with a trip to the seaside town of Setubal for its piscatorial delights, then journeyed to the countryside village of Monsanto for carnivorous temptations. In Part II, we go to the root of it, Lisbon, the capital of ‘saudade.’ In the Fado classic, “Cheira Bem Cheira
Part 2: Summer Recipes to Quell Portuguese ‘Saudade’ Read More »
Portuguese expats in the U.S. like to joke that if there’s a waft of sizzling sardines in the air then a fellow immigrant can’t be too far. They’re usually right. Growing up in New Jersey, expats’ grills were hardly ever graced by the usual American fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, porter house steaks, ribs, lobster
Grilling Season: How Portuguese Expats Fire it Up and What They Pour to Cool Down Read More »
We had every intention of picking the olives from our modest but productive olive trees but being rather unsure of how to go about it we kept putting it off. It was late November in Alto Minho region, northern Portugal and every day we passed groups of people collecting olives. Often we would stop and
The Olive Harvest in Portugal: A Delightful Aromatic Adventure 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 »
Our journey through the world of traditional tapas began with the mighty tomato and led us to the robust potato. We now find ourselves returning once again to Spain’s favorite bread-topping condiment – the almighty tomato. Pan con Tomate (aka Pa amb Tomàquet or Pan a la Catalana) is one of the most popular and
Tradition Meets Modernity: New Ideas for Old Tapas (Part III: Pan con Tomate) Read More »
In Part I (Gazpacho), we began our journey in the heat of the south of Spain but now head to one of the country’s northern-most regions, Bilbao (as rumor/tradition has it) to modify another of Spain’s great signature dishes – tortilla española. Known by a few names – tortilla española, tortilla a la española, and
Tradition Meets Modernity: New Ideas for Old Tapas (Part II: Tortilla Española) Read More »
