Here is a short one on Lisbon today since I have a craving for those Portuguese Custard Tarts, aka PASTEL DE NATA. After three visits to Lisbon, I will go back there again in a jiffy. The city on different levels, walking in rain, riding the tram, taking the train to Cascais, passing the second Christ the Redeemer (after Brazil's first), standing on the Westernmost edge of the European continent after walking through a beautiful seaside village, and trekking to the the Palace at Sintra with my two trooper kids and stopping enroute to eat at the wayside cafe', are precious memories as if it was all yesterday! When my kids and I went into Pastéis de Belém for those custard tarts, it was the fag end of the day and we had been walking all day with both of them enjoying everything, especially visiting stores with soccer jerseys, chasing and feeding pigeons and loving those sudden downpours. And just like these two 5 and 9 year olds, I was ready for pastries and coffee. Ordered my coffee and two glasses of leche' (milk) for the kids along with the Pastel de natas. Well, in a bit we got served 3 cups of Espresso coffee with Milk 🧐 Try as I did, I was unable to get him to understand that the kids wanted milk, not coffee. Finally he went and got them chocolate milk. This was in 2006 with no google translator for help. Anyway, I did not want to waste the coffee. So in a matter of a few minutes, I had drunk my 3 cups of Espresso. Then on a sugar and adrenaline high, we walked out of the cafe' and to this day my kids remind me of this. What else did I try in Lisbon? Well, Goanese food for one with a couple of vegetarian dishes on that menu - Okra being one. Indians from Goa run some restaurants there. Migration both ways with Goa having been a Portuguese colony. Tried the Goanese dessert called Bibinca. I am only writing about dessert because Portugal is not a country that comes to mind when we think vegetarian (rather, we think 'fish').
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Here is a short one on Lisbon. I have been craving for those Portuguese Custard Tarts, aka PASTEL DE NATA. After three visits to Lisbon, I will go back there again in a jiffy. The city on different levels, walking around, riding the tram, taking the train to Cascais, passing the second Christ the Redeemer (after Brazil's first) and standing on the Westernmost edge of the European continent after walking through a beautiful village, And trekking up to the the Palace at Sintra with the two little kids. Feeling the bravado with a beating heart that I was alone responsible for these two in this strange country.
It is fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday when my kids and I went into Pastéis de Belém for those custard tarts.....it was the fag end of the day and walking all day with a 5 and 9 year old, I was ready for pastries and coffee, like the hungry kids. Ordered my coffee and two glasses of leche' (milk) for the kids along with the pastries. Well, in a bit we got served 3 cups of Espresso coffee with Milk. Try as I did, I was unable to get him to understand that the kids wanted milk. Finally he went and got them chocolate milk which was ok. This was in 2006 and with no google translator. Anyway, I did not want to waste the coffee. So in a matter of a few minutes, I had drunk my 3 cups of espresso, and then on a sugar and adrenaline high we walked out of the cafe'. What else did I try in Lisbon? Well, Goanese (Indians from Goa are plenty) food for one. And the Goanese dessert called Bibinca. I am only writing about dessert because Portugal is not a country that comes to mind when we think vegetarian. I do have a friend who visited last year and said she found decent vegetarian food in the Time Out Market Lisboa. It is a huge marketplace with different foods being cooked. Check it out if you happen to be there.
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Here is a short one on Lisbon. I have been craving for those Portuguese Custard Tarts, aka PASTEL DE NATA. After three visits to Lisbon, I will go back there again in a jiffy. The city on different levels, walking around, riding the tram, taking the train to Cascais, passing the second Christ the Redeemer (after Brazil's first) and standing on the Westernmost edge of the European continent after walking through a beautiful village, And trekking up to the the Palace at Sintra with the two little kids. Feeling the bravado with a beating heart that I was alone responsible for these two in this strange country.
It is fresh in my memory as if it was yesterday when my kids and I went into Pastéis de Belém for those custard tarts.....it was the fag end of the day and walking all day with a 5 and 9 year old, I was ready for pastries and coffee, like the hungry kids. Ordered my coffee and two glasses of leche' (milk) for the kids along with the pastries. Well, in a bit we got served 3 cups of Espresso coffee with Milk. Try as I did, I was unable to get him to understand that the kids wanted milk. Finally he went and got them chocolate milk which was ok. This was in 2006 and with no google translator. Anyway, I did not want to waste the coffee. So in a matter of a few minutes, I had drunk my 3 cups of espresso, and then on a sugar and adrenaline high we walked out of the cafe'. What else did I try in Lisbon? Well, Goanese (Indians from Goa are plenty) food for one. And the Goanese dessert called Bibinca. I am only writing about dessert because Portugal is not a country that comes to mind when we think vegetarian. I do have a friend who visited last year and said she found decent vegetarian food in the Time Out Market Lisboa. It is a huge marketplace with different foods being cooked. Check it out if you happen to be there.
