Gastro Property Investing: Portugal

Posted by Jude Buttle on Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Culinary Culture

The Portuguese attitude to food is simple and imaginative, traditional and inventive. Above all, enjoying good food and the social aspects of eating is an important part of everyday life.

Despite the influence it has had on far-away places such as Macau and Goa, Portuguese cuisine is hugely underrepresented outside of Portugal and far less recognised than its Spanish cousins.

Portuguese food is based on regional produce, emphasising fish, meat, olive oil, tomato, and spices. Fish is really important, from the common anchovy to salmon, swordfish, sole, bass and sea bream. Bacalhau, salted cod, is essentially the ‘national' fish and said to be the basis for some 365 recipes, one for each day of the year.

Shellfish, including clams and mussels are also of a high quality. Crab and squid are often stuffed and visitors to the capital city Lisbon can find traditional shops by the docks selling snails.

Starters

Seafood is extremely popular in Portugal and often consumed as a starter to the main course. Anything from grilled sardines to fried calamari fritters will be served up on a plate, usually flavoured with olive oil and white wine vinegar.

Main Courses

Bacalhau (salted cod) is the nations favourite fish and used frequently. Cod is almost always used dried and salted because the Portuguese fishing tradition in the North Atlantic developed before the invention of refrigeration - therefore it needs to be soaked in water or sometimes milk before cooking.

The Portuguese steak, bife, is a slice of fried beef or pork served in a wine based sauce with fried potatoes, fried rice, or salad. A variant to the dish is an egg placed on top of the meat, sunny side up, in which case the dish becomes, bife com um ovo a cavalo, steak with an egg on horseback.

Desserts

The Portuguese enjoy rich egg-based desserts that are often seasoned with spices such as cinnamon and vanilla. Two of the most popular desserts are arro doce (a typical and popular rice pudding - a must at Christmas parties) and leite-creme (a set egg custard).

From the Bar

Wine (red, white and green) is the traditional Portuguese drink, with Rosé being one of the most popular among foreigners but not so appreciated by the Portuguese themselves.

Vinho Verde, or green wine, is a specific kind of wine, which can be red, white or rosé. Only produced in the northwest (Minho province), the term "green wine" does not refer to the colour of the drink but to the fact that this wine needs to be drunk "young."

Port wine is a fortified wine of distinct flavour produced in Douro and normally served with desserts. Liqueurs such as Licor Beirão and Ginjinha are very popular as an after dinner drink.

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Regional Delicacies

Lisboa

The food on offer in many of the restaurants of Portugal's capital city is simple, well prepared and made with fresh ingredients. But don't be misled by appearance, as some of the most delicious dishes are usually served at the cheapest looking places.

Seafood is a firm favourite, particularly grilled tuna, grilled sardines and gigantic tiger prawns. All these are served at the Ramiro restaurant in Lisbon, which is widely regarded as the best seafood place in town.

Pasteis de Nata - deliciously soft, sweet, custard tarts - are a dessert cult in Lisbon. One of the best places to sample them is in Belem, just off the water-front, at the Antiga Confeitaria de Belem - a blue and white-tiled temple to eggs, cream sugar and pastry.

Algarve

The Algarve is a great place to enjoy lots of seafood and fish. Swordfish is a great favourite along with squid, gourmet lobster and clams.

Portimao is famous for its tasty grilled sardines, served on a slice of home-made bread - extremely simple but so delicious.

One good dish to try is Cataplana, which is made with lots of garlic, clams and pork. The main meat dishes are chicken and pork.

A Taste of the Property

Known as the "bread basket" of Portugal, Alentejo is an area that is mainly reliant on agriculture and livestock, with several types of cheeses, wines, smoked hams and sausages produced in the region.

This former water-mill is set in a quiet location in the middle of the beautiful landscape of the Alentejo. Recently renovated, the house has six bedrooms and is 150 kilometres from Lisbon. Price £397,920.

Situated just a short drive east of Faro Airport, Olhão is the Algarve's biggest fishing port and hosts an annual seafood festival, displaying every imaginable seafood delicacy, including octopus, squid, clam, prawn, mussel and the ubiquitous grilled sardine.

A four bedroom villa on the outskirts of Olhão offers fantastic views of the hills and the coastline. Just 10 minutes away from the nearest golf course, this property also contains a games room and an outdoor swimming pool. Price £915,570.

Search for property in Portugal

If you are looking for Portuguese property for sale, such as villas, apartments or other types of real estate, why not check out TheMoveChannel.com Portugal, which has a large number of listings from Portuguese estate agents and developers selling properties in areas such as the Algarve and Lisboa: http://portugal.themovechannel.com/

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