Showing posts with label Portuguese Tradicional Food. Show all posts

Details from Mosteiro dos jerónimos, Belém


We went out in a hot, hot summer day in the hopes of finding a fresh, shaded from the sun and a beautiful place. Not that the proximity to the oh famous Pasteis de Belém (official website) wasn't a decisive factor ah
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos a masterpiece of Manueline style, full of amazing carved details all with their respective symbols. My doom!

Nós saímos num dia de muito, muito calor à procura de um local fresco, à sombra e que fosse magnifico. Não que a proximidade aos tão afamados Pasteis de Belém ( site oficial ) não tenha sido um factor decisivo ah
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos uma obra-prima do estilo Manuelino, cheio de pormenores incríveis todos com a sua respectiva simbologia. Uma perdição!







The oh so delicious, soft, sweet and mouthwatering Pasteis de Belém ! Sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon (I'll confess I'm a bit enthusiastic about the sprinkling). Here's the link for a previous post more detailed about them : Click Me! Have a Good week!

Pasteis de Belém tão deliciosos, suaves, doces e de abrir o apetite! Polvilhados com açúcar e canela em pó (eu confesso, eu sou entusiasta demais de todo o processo de polvilhar). Deixo o link para se quiserem ver um post meu já antigo praticamente dedicado ao Pasteis de Belém: Cliquem Aqui! Tenham uma boa semana!

Thai pavilion situated in Belém's Garden. Shipped for the celebrations of 500 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Portugal. Gorgeous is an understatement.
Pavilhão Tailandês situado no Jardim De Belém. Enviado no âmbito das comemorações dos 500 anos das relações diplomáticas entre a Tailândia e Portugal. Lindo é dizer pouco.

Tia Alice and the delicious roasted pig


Tia Alice or aunt Alice is the name for a very well known restaurant in Negrais (see here). A family restaurant known mostly for it's roasted pig (at least to me). We've been there last year and we loved it so much so we came back ;) It isn't cheap but it's a birthday celebration long overdue. And you know how serious I take b-day celebrations!
Roasted pig accompanied by fried potatoes, salad and if you want some rice. 
The crust is delicious and compliments the perfectly medium rare and oh so tender meat, followed up by a refreshing white wine.

Tia Alice é o nome de um restaurante bem conhecido em Negrais (ver aqui). Um restaurante familiar conhecido essencialmente pelo seu leitão assado na lenha (pelo menos para mim é). Já lá estivemos o ano passado e gostámos tanto que voltámos ;) Não é barato mas é um celebração de aniversário já há muito devida. E sabem o quão a sério eu levo as celebrações de aniversários!
Porco assado acompanhado por batatas fritas, salada e, se assim se quiser, um pouco de arroz. 
A crosta é deliciosa e complementa a carne macia e oh perfeitamente média assada, acompanhados por um refrescante vinho branco.




Among all the lovely decoration were 2 old photos of the founders taken 50 years ago. And Guess who we happened to see that day siting next to us? 

No meio de toda a encantadora decoração estavam 2 fotografias dos fundadores do restaurante tiradas à 50 anos atrás. E adivinhem quem estava na mesa ao lado?


The same couple from those photos. Both were beyond friendly (even let me get some photos and all). We chatted, exchange stories and old memories.
It made me wonder. Where will I be or how will I be in 50 years, hell in 5 years from now. Specially now since I'm graduating this year and feeling all anxious with what will I do, where will I be and all.
Still, along with a satisfied stomach I also left with a warmer heart. So wonderful to see they're real and still together, a true happy ending as it should always be.

Have a good week! Beijinhos**


O mesmo casal das fotos tiradas à 50 anos atrás. Ambos amigáveis, muito sompáticos (até me deixaram tirar fotos e tudo). Nós conversámos, trocámos histórias e velhas memórias de tempos antigos. Fez-me questionar. Aonde estarei ou como estarei daqui a 50 anos, ou somente daqui a 5 anos. Especialmente agora que estou prestes a obter a minha licenciatura.
Assim e juntamente com o meu estômago reconfortado sai de lá com o meu coração apaziguado. Foi fantástico conhecê-los e saber que são reais e que ainda estão juntos. Um verdadeiro final feliz como devia ser sempre.


 Boa Semana! Beijinhos*

   

Santarém - 32nd National Festival of Gastronomy


Hello ma dears!
Brace yourselves this is entirely a mouthwatering post, evolving around the biggest food event of Portugal the none other than the 32nd National Festival of Gastronomy hosted every year in Santarém. The festival includes all flavours of the country showing and giving for the visitor to taste the very best of our gastronomy heritage (cheese,sausages,meats, fish, honey, desserts,drinks...). You can either nibble from "tasquinha" to "tasquinha" or go for what I do, choose a place, sit down and have a full proper meal.
 Again as it's been tradition we go to "Académico" from Bragança just for the "Posta Mirandesa", we can't eat it anywhere else, only this year we did have to wait to get a table (but it was so worth it). I live for the festival ahaha

These year our beloved restaurant was right upfront, less to walk for me, and as you can see full!

The appetizers! 2 types of spicy sausage and cheese from the region.

The well known "Alheira". You do have to ask for it during the entrée


The "Posta Miradensa" huge chunks of meat roasted to perfection well seasoned, accompanied by some boiled potatoes and better cabage than last year. In the photo you see 4 "postas" but don't worry if you can't eat it all there you can always bring home, nicely wrapped, the one that got away.

Coffee, always a must. To ensure you stay awake and ready for the desserts, and also to help digest the meal. (And to easing it up the 13% alcohol green wine you had during the meal)
And Now the desserts.

Honestly each year I pass by the finest and delicious dessert's area I'm like "I'm in heaven and my heart beats so that I can hardly chooooseeee!". Jokes aside after seeing all those different and regional sweets you understand why the Portuguese gastronomy is so well known 'cus there's so much to choose from, each region with it's own devilish yummy pastries.

There was a couple of older women making for everyone to see "D.Rodrigo" one pastries also very popular.

If you're my usual follower you might have seen these babes here and here: "Doces Finos" made of marzipan originally from Algarve. If you like macaroons you probably would love them.


Now the drinks or should I say alcohol drinks.
Moscatel about 2,50 although I seriously don't remember, from Setúbal. A sort of liqueur wine.

"Poncha" from Madeira at 1,20. Made of brandy cane sugar, honey and lemon juice.

Craftwork

As I like you call it, the souvenirs. Some "Doces Finos" just to prolong the food high.

 "Doces finos" filled with yarn eggs

The view on the way home.

Recap: The food festival is a fantastic way to pass the day, it's an opportunity to eat the very best of each regional dish, to enjoy  the warm feeling and learn how strong the cultural value of the Portuguese's gastronomy heritage is. If to you eating is more than simply suppress a biological need, it's a way to socialize and to bond with others than these festival is definitely for you.

Prices: The entries cost this year was 2 Euro per person. The main dish we had, "Posta Mirandesa" for 4 people was around 85 Euro. The outside desserts and drinks were usually above 1,50 Euro. So yeah, expensive, not everyone can afford, but for as long as we can, we'll continue to visit it. And it's once a year.

Hope you've enjoyed these post.
If you happened to have visisted these festival, please share what you've tasted!
Happy weekend!
Beijinhos**
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