Portugal Guide

THE PORTUGUESE FOOD

Text provided by the Portuguese Tourist Office (with minimal corrections)

To the Portuguese food is probably the second most important thing they think about. Meal times are very important, details of the dish that was eaten the day before makes an interesting topic of conversation and the Sunday lunch with the extended family must be attended.
Outside the main cities and tourist areas, the food has developed over the years as the Romans started agriculture, the Discoverers found new ingredients and spices and colonists returned from the colonies. The Portuguese eat more fish than any other country in Europe and also more rice (cultivated in Portugal). The tradition of a specific area or village having its own dish remains very strong and the Portuguese will travel for an hour to eat the speciality of that village in one of its restaurants.

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For example the village of Mealhada has about one hundred restaurants filled by people from outside who have come to eat suckling pig. Quantity is almost as important as quality and, especially in the north, is it usual when ordering a dish to ask if it is enough for two people. High quality food can be found throughout the country. The surroundings are not important, it is the quality of the food that matters. Do have the courage to join the locals in the 'tascas' and try the dishes. For those on a budget, try the dish of the day (prato do dia) served at lunchtime in many restaurants. This will cost about 600 escudos outside the main cities and will include a glass of wine or beer. The Portuguese restaurants are worth trying but do try the traditional dishes. Be careful if you order a steak and chips since meat is not hung and it is likely to be tough.
In Portugal, a separate country for well over 800 years (since 1143) and with the oldest established frontiers in Europe (since 1267), we would be right to expect a rich legacy of culinary treasures and talents and indeed, despite its small size Portugal does have a refreshingly versatile cusine Unfortunately, many documented traditional recipes were lost in Lisbon's major earthquake of 1755. 15,000 lives were lost and amid the destruction many books disappeared. Fortunately just a few years ago Portuguese documents dating from the 16th century were found at Naples National Library, Italy containing medieval recipes. In 1565 the Portuguese Princess Maria (1538-77) married the Duke of Parma. Consequently she took her personal library, including notebooks with her recipes to Italy.

Other surviving chronicles reflect the eating habits of the Portuguese from the nation's earliest days. Kings, nobles and high-ranking military men would choose with great care the various servants whose task it was to wait at table, serve the wine and keep an eye on the quality (and quantity) of the food that went into their master's larders. These servants were accorded special privileges for their devotions and efficiency.