Lisbon: Tastes & Traditions Food Tour

We finished our walking tour this morning and went back to our hotels to check in and meet Joanne for our afternoon food tour. Our tour guide Cecilia, was very knowledgeable and eager to share the History and cultural significance of Portugese food. Our stops supported local, small businesses, some of which have been around for many years. She said there are 3 religions in Portugal: sugar, pork and cod

Stop 1 at Confeitaria Ilacional was for espresso and pastry buns

Stop 2 at Solar Da Madalena was for marinated pork buns with piri piri oil and mustard

Stop 3 at Gin Jinha Sem Rival de Eduardio was a Porrugese drink called Gin Jinha which is cherries in liquor
Abilio - 50 years serving this cherry liquor in this location
A nossa = cheers 

Stop 4 at Manteigaria Silva was the salted, cured Bacalhau cod and we tried a Portugese pork meat similar to proscuitto. It comes from black pigs who only eat acorns the last several wèeks before slaughter.

On the way to the next stop we saw the university students doing their celebratory walk through the streets dressed in their uniforms singing, cheering

Stop 5 was the Trobadores Taverna Medieval Restaurant.  Medieval Storytellers would frequent this incredibly old restaurant. We had a unique dinner trying a "fake" pork sausage originated by the Jewish people so they could make it look like they were Portugese and eating regular pork sausages. The sausages were made with white meat and bread. We also tried Baukhla cod with potatoes and another pork dish.

Stop 6 at caso Do Bacalhau Da Ribeira was for tins of Portugese sardines as a gift from our guide. 1853 canning was started in Portugal for sardines, octopus, cod, tuna.

Stop 7 at Manteigaria was for Portugese custard tarts 

Our guide ended with:
Portugese are melancholy people who have lived through so much.
Salty sea,  how much of your salt are tears from Portugal

Other info shared
Lisbon has Neo-Manuelina 19th century revivalist architecture from 16th century architectural style in Sintra and Lisbon

Manuelina style in Sintra is from the 16th century

Lisbon is where the river dies and the ocean is bornRead more