dizzyLizzy

Going to Portugal for 6 days. 2 in Lisbon, 2 in Monte Real and 2 in Porto. What must I see, must I eat and must I buy? I will have a car but I do not want to go too far off the main highways unless ... I MUST! Thanks for the info!

dizzyLizzy

Oh, also I will be there from October 12-18th

PalenQ

Be sure to tour the Port Wine houses right in the center of Porto! right along the river.

suec1

We had delicious grilled / roasted fish several nights - also lots of places have roasted chicken that I liked but my daughter said was just like here except had piri-piri sauce on the side. We also liked the Belem pastries.

And heads up - most places will bring you some starters after you sit down - they are not FREE and will be added to your bill if nibbled. A few places asked if we wanted them, most just set them on the table.

amer_can

Send the starters back don't just not touch them... and I think the bread is extra also but I can't remember for sure Ask!!!Small pottery jugs, little dishes, make easy to carry gifts..A cataplana pot is an interesting item to display and use in your kitchen at home..The meal...Cataplana is very good and easy to make when you get home. A recipe book makes a nice souvenier.

suec1

I'll add that the classic dish is salt cod but we did not try it - just did not sound appealing and I don't think it is even from Portugal - dried fish from Scandanavia. Friends told me we should try it but just didn't do it. anyone here given it a try?

HappyTrvlr

Cataplana is a wonderful dish of sausage chorico, ham, and clams cooked in a pan of the same name. Leitao is roast suckling pig, as good as it gets. Acorda is bread based and delicious.
Lots of seafood and vegetable soups are on the menus. We didn't order baccalau(salted cod) either but it is a major dish there. Years ago, before refrigeration,Portugese fisherman preserved the cod they caught in the North Atlantic with salt.The pastries, custard filled, are wonderful.
Portugese pottery is a good value and very colorful.I brought back wine coasters and olive dishes.

PeaceOut

I will have my trip report posted soon. See my thread on Lisbon. We LOVED it.

SloJan2

I love bacalhau, esp the pasteis de bacalau which is the codfish cakes. I also like the cataplana, the Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato (clams cooked in a broth of garlic, white wine and cilantro) and bolo de arroz (rice cakes which are delicious with a galão (latte))

AS far as wines go, the Douro and Dão produces some nice reds, but don't forget the Alentejo wines. I like vinho verde for lunch as it is a light, young wine.

I think the ceramics in the north are gorgeous and that is what I spend my money on.

BTW, the couvert (which is the little starter that is brought) is not free and it is fine to send it back. I wouldn't leave it on the table as they may think you have nibbled on it. Personally, I love the custom and always partake. One of the common things that is on it is a carrot dish that is lightly blanched and mixed with vinegar, olice oil, parsley, garlic and cumin. Delish!

Portuguese cooking is heavily influenced by African cuisines. That is where they get the piri piri from as well as a wonderful red pepper, vinegar sauce that is a bit chunky and salty.

Fish to try: Espada, Dorado, Robalo, and Corvino. These are all mild. Sardines, of course and Carapau (mackerel) are also everywhere. I like the carapau better than the sardines myself.

ozgirl

SOAP!
Beautiful soap made in Porto is available in a lovely shop called A Vida Portuguesa which also stocks uniquely packaged sardines, ceramics and all things made in Portugal.
I am a sucker for beautifully packaged soap and carried home 2kg from Portugal!! (unfortunately lost my sardines in Porto airport as each tin had a net fluid weight of more than 100mls - I had put them in carry on thinking to lighten checked in baggage on a TAP flight to Paris Bet they had a tasty supper that night!

PeaceOut

FYI, I finally wrote up my trip report from wonderful Lisbon:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-price-tag.cfm