If you are in Lisbon on a vacation or a business trip, you will notice that in Lisbon, dining forms a part of social culture where people meet and greet each other.
Gastronomy being such a vital part of their heritage, the people here are proud of their love for food. They love to eat, drink and make merry. Meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits, and sometimes even quail and rabbit form the main ingredients of the food here. There is a special place reserved for mention of seafood, as the Portuguese love their seafood dearly. Sardinhas Assadas (char-grilled sardines), Cardo Verde (cabbage and potato soup) and Pasteis de Bacalhao (cod fishcakes) are some of the local specialties. The standard fare here consists largely of cod fish which can be prepared in several ways. In fact, they say that it can be prepared in a different way every day of the year! Portuguese people have a sweet tooth, and wine with every meal is a norm. Portugal is a big producer of fine wines, and has a range wide enough to suit almost any palate. ‘Vinho Verde’ is a national specialty, and the name ‘green wine’ points to a young and fresh sparkling wine fermented short – very popular in these parts. Oh yes, there are very few vegetarians here, and getting just vegetarian food is not too easy, so keep that in mind.
In Lisbon, hotels and accommodation are reasonable priced, as is their food. You will be surprised at the sheer variety here. Restaurants line the streets of Lisbon, and you will notice that they are doing brisk business throughout the day. When you visit one of these places, waiters will often bring you fresh, homemade bread, butter and cheeses to snack on while you wait for your food. Its always a great idea to try the daily specials, and more often than not, the waiter will also inform you what the fresh choice of fish for the day is. The tips are reasonable low – just a couple of Euros. Don’t forget to end your meal with a nice cup of freshly brewed strong filter coffee which is generally served in small shots after you’ve had your fill of the sweets here. ‘Arroz Doce’ or sweet rice, ‘Leite Crème’ made from milk, eggs and sugar, and the all-time favorite ‘Mousse de chocolate’ are popular picks in this category.
Bottom line is - If you can manage a good deal on a cheap flight to Lisbon and cheap accommodation in Lisbon as well, it is a good idea to get here as soon as you can!
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