When you travel to Lisbon, do so on an empty stomach and an open mind! In Lisbon, dining is treated like a fine art. An art to be appreciated and enjoyed thoroughly in the best of Lisbon restaurants. Once you have found yourself some cheap accommodation in Lisbon, drop your bags and head to the nearest bistro or corner restaurant. Here you will find a fine selection of cheese, seafood, ham, sausages and poultry. The Portuguese thrive on variety, and some say codfish has over 300 varieties and styles they cook it in. Let’s see what we would do if we were to visit a typical Lisbon hotel restaurant.
If you are dining, you can start with some Alentejana Soup made from bread, garlic, coriander herbs, and egg. It’s simply delicious, and creamy. You can also try Cacao soup made from fresh fish. These are the local favorites. If you want to try your hand at having spicy food, then look to order a dish called Pork a la Alentejana, made with pork dipped overnight in wine, coriander herbs, onions and minced almonds. Rabbit, hare or partridge with white beans is also consumed with great relish here in the cooler months. Cheese forms an essential part of the diet here, with a choice of sheep cheese and hard cheese from Evora had along with some olive oil. Codfish is a must eat on the menu, and you can even ask for the catch of the day and choose what you want to eat. It tastes delightful with tomatoes, onions, potatoes and garlic.
Oh yes – no meal is complete here without wine, and it is found in abundance. When in Lisbon, ask your local accommodation management to guide you about the local wines here. Vinho verde is hugely popular here along with Dao, which is grown on the slopes of the Dao Valley, and Bairrada, which is a sturdy and aromatic red wine. The Portuguese love port wine, and it simply flows while you are eating.
End with a flourish with almond pastries, mousse (chocolate, of course!), sugar cakes, and pastries. Head straight to a confeitaria or pasteleria for the best variety in desserts. In Lisbon, one can ill afford to miss the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem, home to the legendary pasteis de nata, along with custard tarts and bolinhas de Bacalhou.
Portuguese food is imaginative yet traditional. It brings out the essence of a very old, rich culture deeply drawn to gastronomy. Eating out and enjoying food everyday is a part of social etiquette here in Lisbon. If you can, pack your bags, and catch the first cheap flight to Lisbon – you won’t regret it one bit – especially in full season!
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