A few years ago, I was dining sozinho (alone) in a small neighborhood cafe in Porto when I caught sight of this gorgeous pastry in the display case. With crispy folds of puff pastry piled high under a hard, sugary crust of perfection, I thought “damn girl, you need that!” But what looked like a small dainty pastry wasn’t...

In the North of Portugal, parks radiate green under rain filled winter skies. Moss gently spreads along ancient stone walls, vines creep up porcelain tiles as Camellia trees burst in red, pinks and whites. It’s mesmerizing, beautiful and absolutely worth seeing for yourself! Camellias, however, didn’t originate in Portugal, like the cork oak or lavender bush did; they’re home to eastern and...