Like wine, cheese is an important and valued part of Portuguese cuisine and one that is typically overlooked by much of the world. Portugal boasts of various high-quality artisanal cheeses, which are primarily produced in the central mountainous and plateau regions using sheep’s and goat’s milk. The islands of the Azores are also famed cheese […]
Part 1: The Ultimate User’s Guide to Portuguese Cheese Read More »
A few years back, while staying at the Perxe casa rural in La Molina, we were privy to taste our very first Montsant olive oil made from the Arbequine olive. Sitting at a large wooden table with a loaf of bread, we dipped into the brilliant light jade colored oil, and as we brought the
The Spanish Arbequina Olive from DO Montsant: Storing, Serving and Tasting Olive Oil Read More »
Regardless of where you are in the world, someone wants to know, “Are there vegetarian options available?.” When I first think about Portuguese cuisine, vegetarian or vegetables are definitely not what come to mind, while fish, meat and rice are more common. But as a foreigner, I am no expert. So I decided to take
Cozinha Portuguesa Vegetariana: Eating Vegetarian in Portugal Read More »
Bacalhau is Portuguese for dry, salted cod, and is referred to as Bacalao in Spain or Bacala in Italy. Today we take a look at it from a Portuguese perspective. Historically, Bacalhau was the staple for these three predominately Catholic countries during Lent, when meat was considered a forbidden food. And although the recipes have
Bacalhau: The Staple of Portuguese Cuisine Read More »
Ever since I was little, I would look forward to a particular treat during the Easter season. It wasn’t the chocolate candy, or the colored eggs, but the homemade Easter bread made by my Italian mother and aunts. This sweet bread, traditionally flavored with anise oil and seeds, would be my breakfast every morning during
Folar da Pascoa: Portugal’s Delicious Easter Bread Read More »
There is a romance to Spain that is all its own. From Bizet‘s Carmen to Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls, the world has a vision of Spain steeped in exoticism that draws many of us towards this fascinating country; myself included. But one of my most cherished elements of Spain has little to no
Patatas Bravas: My Dirty Spanish Secret Read More »
For years, I have gushed to no end about Portugal’s delicious pastry tradition. No matter where you travel in Portugal, you can always find plenty of Pastelerias, the home of the delicious sweet treats that put a smile on my face almost every morning. But what you may not know is that apart from these
Portugal’s Regional Pastries: A Touch of Sweetness With Individuality! Read More »
My entire life has been surrounded by food. The rich smell of simmering meat and the pop of an uncorked wine bottle take me back to family gatherings spent huddled in the kitchen listening to heartfelt laughter among people I love. I equate food to family, to history and to culture. Here in Spain, I
The Gastronomical Bounty in Castilla y León: Asados, Embutidos, Quesos and More Read More »
For being one of my most frequented cities outside of Lisbon, I’ve often reference Setúbal as a geographic landmark to other cities. But now, it’s time I give the stunning city of Setúbal due diligence as your idyllic travel destination! This little city, situated right on the Sado River estuary about a 45-minute drive south from
Setúbal, Portugal: The Underrated Region Read More »
Prior to my arrival on the Peninsula, my experience with wild mushrooms were both infrequent and rather tame. Having lived in Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado and Minnesota, my knowledge of mushrooms solely consisted of cute little button white mushrooms bought in the grocery store that had a slightly sweet flavor eaten raw, and when cooked,
Wild Mushrooms of Catalunya Read More »
On a trip to London last week, I tried to get a feel for how consumers might see sherry. Just ordinary consumers,not the sorts who buy wines from expensive West End merchants.Of course, this exercise was totally unscientific. In between errands and meetings, I dropped into as many shops as I could to get an
Continued from Part 1 on Darian Delights But what did this family drink? On offer was the internationally exported Tsingtao beer from another famed coastal city, Qingdao. The spelling “Tsingtao‘ is from the Wades-Giles system of representing the sounds of Chinese characters (now defunct); but some Chinese brands/institutions like to state their age by using
Located just off Plaza de la Reina in the Gothic section of the city of Valencia, snuggled within the tiny courtyard of La Plaza del Arzobispo sits Enopata – a two month old restaurant devoted exclusively to wine. On the first night of our three day trip to Valencia this past weekend, our hope was
Enopata – A Wine Lover’s Treasure in the Heart of Valencia Read More »
In recent weeks, I have visited the Emilio Hidalgo bodega twice, and since their wines are so good, a post has become just about unavoidable. This is a small, truly independent, family-owned bodega. It was started by the Hidalgo family in the mid 1800s and is run by decedents of the founders brothers Fernando and
Sherry House: Emilio Hidalgo, And Ways to Change Future Generations into Sherry Lovers Read More »
Throughout my time living in this deliciously diverse food and wine country, I’ve come to realize that the Portuguese have developed themselves as artisans in specific food and wine crafts. Port may be the most famous, but what is surprising to most people who have never been here is Portugal’s long tradition in pastry making,
The Art and Culture of Portugal’s Pastry Industry: A History Influenced by Wine! Read More »
