PicoBlog

We love food as proven by last nights dinner... had the most awesome eggplant Parmesan at a friends house. But let me start here. I had one friend at work that I told about our upcoming move to Portugal. Whilst keeping it a secret from the rest of my coworkers she became my confidant because upon mentioning our upcoming (exploratory) trip she said her sister was going to PT because she was planning on moving here. Her sister is vegetarian and came back broken hearted because she claimed she had no options for good vegetarian food anywhere in Portugal. Now I’ve only been here 8 months, but having many vegetarian friends, I’ve not experienced a lack of delicious plant based options anywhere in the Algarve. ( I think

of it like saying the South, the Midwest, the Desert Southwest, the Great Plains or the Pacific Northwest. But then I do say Alentejo and NOT The Alentejo... so I guess I’m no help on that question)

Back on topic, we LOVE the food here and are thrilled to keep exploring new versions of the local cuisine. It’s wonderful when you are in an area that has a variety of options but we live in a town that prides itself on having mostly “traditional” restaurants. My main complaint is that most restaurants are a snack bar and consist of the same menu as the rest. Toasties, baguettes, and sandies of ham or cheese or mista or tuna and occasionally shrimp or chicken. And a hamburger. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish one place from another when the menus are identical. Of course I have identified the superior toastie. If not a snack bar, the grilled fish, chicken piri-piri and pork dishes are usually exceptional. I’ve yet to figure out a way to get the sides you would prefer. I’m amazed that a chicken entree comes with rice and French fries. Or both our meals come with fries and the amount arriving can feed a family of six.

I would love more variety here, but that’s my excuse to explore the neighboring towns and villages. So I’m not really complaining. I too am amazed at the quality and variety of fresh produce readily available everywhere, and the lack of that showing up on menus anywhere. My interpretation of that is an assumption. As Americans we simply dined out a lot and it became less of a special occasion and more of the norm. Here, just maybe, cooking at home is where all these lovely vegetables shine and when the Portuguese dine out they want meat. I don’t know if that’s accurate or if so, is it simply cultural or a symptom of the past. Being a once poorer nation is it a remnant of the peasant culture or from availability of ingredients during the years of the dictatorship. I don’t know. But we spend a lot of time listening to spoken Portuguese by watching the fun chefs teaching you their favorite PT recipes on 24 Kitchen on cable TV.

All said. I’m in love with Portuguese food and my expanding waist line can attest to that. The deserts are amazing and not just sicky sweet, but full of flavor. And I am a fan of the soggy salty cod... which luckily I’ve never found to be soggy or salty. Maybe I’m lucky and have ordered it at the right restaurant on the right day. But I’ve tried it many different ways and other than finding the occasional bone, I’ve loved every bite.

Thank you Nancy for another fun blog. Until next time!

Expand full comment

ncG1vNJzZmidqKWutbXNqaarrKWcrq160q6ZrKyRmLhvr86mZqlnmWK1osDEZqeoqqSqtLax0p5kn6efmXyku8ymnKesow%3D%3D