During our week-long trip to Lisbon, we definitely ate quite a lot of wonderful food. Portugal is known for their seafood and especially for sardines and anchovies, but there is certainly much more to the cuisine of the country. One of the famous treats that is a must have in Lisbon is the Pastel de Nata, which is a delicious custard tart. Another well-known dish is Arroz de Pato or Portuguese Duck Rice that we definitely made sure to eat during our trip.
Pastel de Nata for BreakfastSeafood PastaBlue Lobster Sandwich Arroz de PatoBaked Lasagna
Not everything that we ate was fancy, but we didn’t have a single meal that disappointed us. It would be difficult to choose our favorite dish because they were all unique and wonderful in their own way. We tried our best to mix up the food that we tried so that we weren’t always eating just seafood, although we really enjoyed having so many fresh options with the ocean so close to the city.
Eggs, Spinach, Potato with a Rich SauceMaking Pastel de NataA Seafood SoupCharcuterie BoardDelicious Sardines
There a several cities that we’ve visited that we would consider to be food destinations and Lisbon is certainly among them. In addition to all of the food, we also had several interesting drinks, including Ginga, which is a sour cherry liqueur that is quite delicious. We also had several local beers as well as wonderful wines. The food and drinks were so good that we are definitely looking forward to returning someday to try even more local delicacies.
Spinach Ravioli Cold Beer and White WineSangria and a Frothy BeerTasty DesertGinga – A Sour Cherry LiqueurCrispy RiceTuna SandwichBlue Lobster
We don’t usually eat sweets or desserts, but occasionally we do indulge in something a little decadent. During our time in Europe, we did allow ourselves to have a few special treats. Obviously, we couldn’t leave Germany without having apple strudel, but we also love a good cheesecake, so that is often our go-to dessert when we do decide to have something sweet.
Apple Strudel
Traditional Cheesecake
Custard Tart with Fresh Fruit
Even though we may not have dessert very often, one thing we learned was that European’s definitely make wonderful cakes, pies, and other sweets. We would have loved to try even more of the incredible sweets that we saw, but we were too often full from the heavy meals of the season. We will just have to schedule a return trip so that we can try even more specialties.
Strudel Variation
Raspberry Cheesecake
Apple Cake
Perhaps in the future, we will skip the main meal so that we can concentrate on the various pastries, cakes, custards, and pies. Until then, we will just have to look back fondly at what we were able to enjoy.
Today we are featuring a guest blog from LocalAventura, who specialize in creating personalized Latin American adventures and are helping us with our upcoming trip next week.
Stand back Paris and Rome, Santiago Chile is coming. but rather than cobblestoned line streets or ancient ruins, Santiago Chile has got something else. Incredible Character and hidden gems. The city at first glance doesn’t seem like much, but once you discover its incredible and non-touristy spots, it will capture you.
Looking to see beyond the typical sights? LocalAventura is here to help. We’re a travel tech startup based in Santiago and with our team of local guides we hope to show travelers that local travel is indeed best. From our experience living and working in Santiago, we’re here to give you the insider tips you’re looking for. Here are our top five favorite activities to do in Santiago, that most people forget to mention.
Admire the street art and culture of Barrio Brazil
Perhaps one of the most underrated neighborhoods of Santiago, Barrio Brazil is the most traditional part of the city. The neighborhood features colorful houses and fascinating and eye catching political street art. It is also home to many of the city’s artists and writers. Within the neighborhood you’ll find beautiful classic architecture like the Neo-gothic basilica and Spanish style mansions. Be sure to spend some time in Plaza Brazil to see the real rhythm of the barrio.
Pastry Crawl in Barrio Italia
Got a sweet tooth? Barrio Italia is the spot for you. Starting as a neighborhood for furniture artisans, it has since become the spot for shopping boutiques, artisanal goods, and the best pastries in town. Filled with little pastry shops, we recommend you spend an evening shopping and snacking on tiny sweets throughout the day. Many of the places even allow you to taste their treats before you buy them.
Spend a day on the top of the city
Most tourists know about Cerro San Cristobal. Yet after they take the funicular up and explore the San Cristobal statue, they head back down. However, Parque Metropolitan goes on much further and covers nearly 722 hectares. Within the park you can explore the Japanese gardens, botanic gardens, a wine museum, and a zoo.
Taste craft beer in Plaza Nunoa
A trendy neighborhood to escape the tourists in Bellavista and Lastarria, Plaza Nunoa is a bustling center of bars, restaurant, and culture. The area is also home to many craft beer bars and microbreweries where you can taste some of Chile’s best brews, and even some artisanal bars from abroad. We recommend you go for Cerveza Austral, or if you have a sweet tooth try Kuntzman Miel (honey beer).
For those who want to wander the city but don’t know where to begin, a photo scavenger hunt is a unique way to get to know Santiago. In this photography hunt, you’ll be given a list of hashtags and will be given two hours to explore the city taking photos that go with your hashtags. The tour also includes a creative photography lesson from an international photojournalist.
