Gastronomy

In Portugal you can eat and drink really nice traditional food. The traditions are very strong and it's not so many restaurants that serve foreign food. The products itself has already strong flavours so not so much spices are added. You start with a soup then main dish and a dessert, even for lunch. They prefer drinking wine at lunch rather then at night time. Lunch hours are between noon and 15.30, then small meal around 17.00 and dinner hour is at 21.00. Restaurants open between 19.30 - 22.30 for dinner. Don't miss the opportunity to have a dinner at a fado restaurant. Fado is the typical music from Portugal and Lisbon. The strong singing song is about love accompanied by guitars.

Main dish

Fish from the sea you will find in all kind of varieties. The fish that the Portuguese people loves most, although fished in Norway, dried cod fish, called bacalhau, it's a must to try at least one of the different kinds. My favourite is grilled bacalhau with garlic, a lot of olive oil and potatoes baked in the oven.

Grilled fish is served simple and very tasty.

Meat is often served simple also with fresh belongings. French fries are mostly made at the spot and not the frozen type.

Wine

Portuguese wine is very tasty and Portugal is a big producer of wine. Port wine, the sweet dessert wine from Porto in the north is maybe the most known. From this region there is also a wine called Vinho Verde; green wine witch is a wine made of red grapes but the peel is removed to not give the characteristic red colour that makes wine red. White wine are made of green grapes.

Beer

Portugal also produces their own beer. Try Sagres or Super Bock ..

Allergy

Here you can download a food allergy dictionary.

Restaurant suggestions

Lisbon area

Restaurant Chapitô, nice view of Lisbon city and fantastic food in special environment main dish about 12 euro.

Link: Chapitô.

Vimeiro

Take away and small place to sit inside, in Maceira centre, 1,5 km from the houses. Nice prices generous portions and really tasty traditional food.

Buffet for 8 euros including also dessert. Also take away. In Vimeiro village, from houses go to Vimeiro round about and turn left continue 200 m.

Porto Dinheiro (The harbour of money) 7 km from the houses is a very cute place to eat shellfish, 30 euros for two persons and it's so fresh and tasty! You sit outside and have a nice view of the beach with the same name.

Oeiras

In the Oeiras harbour you find really nice restaurants with only traditional food. The prices for a main dish are from 6.5 euro. Menus also in English.

In the small centre of Oerias there are small and typical restaurants that serve grilled fish like Sardinhas; sardines, bitoque; beef served with fried egg, French fries, rice and salad. Of course there are more alternatives. Main dish about 6 euro.

Gate way of India, Indian, Italian restaurant the interior is nothing special but the food is amazing (only tried the Indian). Main dish from 6,5 euro. Menu in English.

They also have take away and home delivery and english speaking staff. Why to eat Indian food in Portugal? Portugal had colonies in India and many Indians came here and there are many nice Indian restaurants in Portugal.

Tired of fish and new dishes, don't worry Mc Donald's and pizzas is also served!

Pizza for take away or home delivery, Nice pizzas price from 10 euro. Menu online, not in English.

Link: Pizza na brasa.

What products to bring home

Chouriço: the Portuguese sausage can transform the most simple meal to something magic, just chop a small piece into you minced meat and use it for example lasagne!

Wine, Honey, spices like bay leaf, oregano, coriander and other herbs.