Seafood
Portugal, located on the southern European coast, enjoys a mild climate and abundant seafood due to the warm ocean currents. This divine gift naturally becomes the main ingredient in Portuguese cuisine. You can savor simple grilled fish, which is always incredibly fresh. As you might expect, fish and seafood are widely available along the entire coastline, and seafood rice and fish rice are both wise choices.
A significant feature of Portuguese cuisine is the use of top-quality fresh cod (which becomes "bacalhau" when salted), prawns, crabs, and various shellfish, creating unique appetizers and main courses. Accompanying these dishes is Portuguese wine. The hosts explain that in Portugal, different wines are paired with different dishes at every meal. The Portuguese cannot live without wine, and some even drink it as if it were water. This illustrates the importance of wine in the hearts of the Portuguese.
Wine
Portugal is famous for many wines—being one of the earliest places to cultivate grapes and produce wine. Port wine, Madeira wine, as well as Rosé, Dão, and Douro are unique Portuguese wines. At different stages of enjoying the meal, different wines are paired; for instance, when tasting appetizers, the green wine from northern Portugal enhances the flavor.
Each dish has a suitable wine pairing. Wine is produced throughout Portugal; while the wines from Porto are well-known, the red wines from Douro and Alentejo, as well as many wines from other regions, are equally impressive.
Pastéis de Nata
If you already enjoy the Pastéis de Nata from McDonald's, you will have no resistance to the authentic and unique Portuguese custard tart. Pastéis de Belém, regarded as the ancestor of the custard tart, is an absolute "century-old shop" that is always bustling with customers. Freshly baked tarts, sprinkled with aromatic cinnamon powder, truly leave a lingering taste that is unforgettable.
Others
In terms of meat dishes, a nationwide recommendation is to stew meat and vegetables together with plenty of water. Portugal's olives are of high quality and are often used as side dishes with various preparations of cod (it is said that there are 1001 ways to prepare cod). The cheese from Serra is often mentioned, but the cheeses from the central region of Portugal and Alentejo are also delicious. Additionally, desserts, which originate from many monasteries, were traditionally made there. Do not miss the opportunity to taste the custard tarts, often enjoyed with coffee; we always eat them quickly.
