Portugal Food Guide

Hello!  Hope you are doing well!  We are doing great!  We arrived in Florida on Saturday afternoon and have taken the time to slow down and relax.  I am grateful that the children are now at a stage where they no longer need to be entertained 24/7, and that we don't have to rush from one activity to the next.  Their best friends are arriving in an hour, and the girls are so excited to spend the rest of the week with them here at the resort.  

Anyway, let's move on as I promised you a food guide.  This isn't meant to be a comprehensive food guide, but rather a list of where we ate and our thoughts on the food in Portugal.  Let me start by saying that the food in Portugal is excellent.  Yum!  Second, regardless of the city we were in, we were able to find a wide range of food options.  You are not forced to eat only Portuguese food, but if you find yourself in a small town with a limited selection, I can attest that Portuguese food is indeed delicious.

The first city on our journey was Lagos, which is located on the Algarve Coast.  Located  2 1/2 hours southeast of Lisbon, you will not only find gorgeous coastal views but an incredible array of food.  While I am not Vegan, I do remember seeing Vegan options, so no worries for our Vegan friends.  If you plan to visit Lagos during the height of the tourism season, which runs from May to October, you should make reservations either in advance for your trip or prioritize this as soon as you arrive in town.  We were turned away from a few restaurants before we came upon an Asian restaurant called Gorilla.  The food was delicious.  We enjoyed starters of soy-glazed mushrooms lightly battered and fried, potstickers, and massaman chicken.  My only complaint is that the rice was slightly undercooked, but this could be due to personal preference in the region or the restaurant's struggle to keep up with demand.

The next day, we ate at a restaurant called Quay, located on the harbor front. This restaurant was excellent.  We started our meal with fresh fruit smoothies, followed by bread, cheese, and an olive course, and concluded with saffron prawns for my friend and seabream (fish), boiled potatoes, and a fresh salad.  All meals were then compared to this meal for the rest of our stay.  Incredible!!!!!!  That evening, we enjoyed a late-night snack, including pizza.  Sadly, I don't know the name of the place, but the constant lines every night indicate it's popular.  Made fresh to order in a brick oven.  This restaurant is located just below Gorilla in the alleyway.

On our last night in Lagos, we ate at a restaurant located on Camilo Beach called Camilo.  The view was amazing.  The service was exceptional, and the decor was clean and fresh-everything you would expect from a high-end restaurant.  It was a splurge for us, but sadly, my steak was slightly overcooked, and so was my friend's swordfish.  I also would expect a restaurant of that caliber to make its own French fries. I also ordered boiled potatoes to go with my fish, and they were way overcooked.  We were the first seating of the evening, so I'm not sure why the quality wasn't there that evening.  It was a disappointment. Despite my steak being overcooked, the flavors were spot on!

Our next destination was Porto, but before we arrived in Porto, we made a stop in Aveiro, where we tried the famous Bachlau.  This snack or appetizer is made from salted cod, mashed potatoes, and herbs.  You can also get it stuffed with sheep cheese, but despite tasting wonderful, I couldn't get past the smell of the latter!  Arriving late at our hotel that evening, and in a rainstorm, we settled in for the night. I ordered spaghetti carbonara, which was rich and creamy.  This pasta was served with a twist of mushrooms.  The following day, we ventured into the city where we crossed the river and ate at the food market.  My friend had the famous Francesinha a sandwich with roots in France similar to a croque-monsieur but instead of the traditional cheese sauce, this sandwich is served with a tomato beer-based sauce.  I am not a fan of wet bread, but I did taste it before the bread got soggy, and the flavors were heavenly. If I were to go to Portugal again, I would order this sandwich with the sauce on the side. 

The next stop was Sintra, which is an absolute must.  While I am sure there are many excellent restaurants in this city, we ate at Tascantiga.  I found the recommendation through YouTube!  The food is outstanding.  I had a steak sandwich served on a brown bread-crusted roll with arugula, and garlic French fries accompanied by a lovely mayo dipping sauce. Additionally, I enjoyed a steamed pumpkin cake served with vanilla curd ice cream, drizzled with honey, and topped with walnuts. Heavenly!  The food was so good, I forgot to take pictures except for the dessert. 

Our last stop in Portugal was Lisbon.  There, we enjoyed an excellent meal of Piri Piri Chicken, which is quite spicy, but you can request the spice level on the side.  This was served with fries, and we ordered a very refreshing side salad.  I thought I had taken a picture of this restaurant to remember the name, but I can't find it.  You can find Piri Piri chicken throughout the city, so there's no need to worry.  Essentially, Piri Piri chicken is roasted chicken, perfectly seasoned and spiced with a blend of peppers.  The chicken was so moist and tender that it fought to cling to the bones, as if it really didn't want to.  It is so tender that it melts in your mouth, and chewing is not necessary. Before we left Portugal, we visited Belem Pasteis de Nata, located near the waterfront. Although not the most famous bakery, I have it on good authority that theirs is superior to the well-known bakery.  Also, the lines are shorter.  On a side note, if you're driving, consider parking your car at the waterfront and walking, as GPS may lead you on a detour before finally directing you to your destination. Pasteis de Nata, or Portuguese egg tarts, are egg custard tarts served hot and can be topped with powdered sugar and/or cinnamon.  The pastry on the outside should be crispy and make a sound when bitten into, and while the custard should not be runny, it should be soft and warm.  Eating an egg tart is like getting a hug from grandma.  Well, concludes my food journey in Portugal.  Whatever you choose to eat in Portugal, I promise you that you will not be disappointed unless you opt for fast food.