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 »
Though it had been one of the rainiest and foggiest weeks I had ever spent in Portugal, on this particular day, the dreariness gave new meaning to the word “melancholy.” In no way was this suicidal ambiance any match for my mission to discover! I was booked for a trip to Viseu and absolutely nothing
Dinner in Viseu: Chewing Over Identity Read More »
Spanish may not be the language of love, but investing the time to pick it up is certainly a labor of love. It is a commitment to learning both the language and the culture where it’s spoken, and while it’s not always easy, it’s nevertheless one of the most rewarding experiences I know. In my
A Foodie’s Guide to Learning Spanish in Spain 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 »
The list of reasons why I love Portugal is long… very long. I could tell you about the goodwill of the people—definitely towards the top of my list. How excited they get when they recognize a genuine interest from a visitor about their country. How they’re always ready to set the table with the best
Top 20 Must Taste Foods in Portugal Read More »
The History of Mixed Spanish Cheese Our journey has taken us through mountainous terrain and spacious pastures; it has introduced us to the sprightly goat, the demure cow, and the helpless sheep. We have also eaten some of the most amazing cheeses produced in the world today. Our final gaze turns to those cheeses produced
A Foreigner’s Guide to Mixed Spanish Cheese Read More »
History of Sheep Cheese Our gallivants through the pastures of the Iberian countryside now turn our gaze from the quiet and inert cow (vaca), and the rambunctious goat (cabra) to the timid and vulnerable sheep (oveja). I might even say that I am thankful for the animal’s reputation of stupidity – follow the shepherd and
A Foreigner’s Guide to Spanish Sheep Cheese Read More »
History of Spanish Goat Cheese Traversing the craggy mountaintops and mountainsides of the Iberian terrain, we descend to the lush, green pastures of the mountains and valleys of (predominantly) Northern Spain. Our gaze turns from the agile and energetic goat (cabra) to the more docile and passive cow (vaca). They graze primarily on the stretch
A Foreigner’s Guide to Spanish Cow Cheese Read More »
Growing up in Florida during the 1970’s and 1980’s I rarely, if ever, saw cheese from an animal other than a cow. Our refrigerator was full of Cheddar, Swiss, and Jack cheeses but nary a cheese from any other animal. I suspect that most people living in the U.S. during that time were experiencing a
A Foreigner’s Guide to Spanish Goat Cheese Read More »
Most American’s familiarity with Spanish cheese lies somewhere in the realm of understanding of Spanish wines a decade ago. Ask anyone then to name a Spanish wine and the response was invariably “Rioja.” The undisputed Queen of Spanish cheese, Manchego, would likely be the response to the same question today regarding cheese. Are you a true
A Foreigner’s Guide to Spanish Cheese: Introduction Read More »
In my two previous posts, we’ve explored Portugal’s most renown and cherished artisanal cheeses, learning the basic flavor profiles, as well as common Portuguese terms when buying and selecting cheese. (Read Part 1 and Part 2) Now it’s finally time to enjoy our delicious Portuguese cheese with some equally delicious Portuguese wine. For many of
Part 3: The Ultimate User’s Guide To Portuguese Cheese Read More »
In Part 1 of “The Ultimate User’s Guide to Portuguese Cheese”, we covered the 2 self-created categories “A Lil’ Stinky But Smooth And Creamy and the “Not Too Soft, Not Too Hard And Not Too Stinky”. The last 2 categories highlight the “Hard, Rugged and Nutty” cheeses, as well as the “Refreshing”. However, you must
Part 2: The Ultimate User’s Guide To Portuguese Cheese Read More »
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 »
