Portuguese food

One thing we were excited about experiencing in Portugal was their food, and we were not disappointed! I some ways, the cuisine is similar to Spain- lots of seafood and pork, typically grilled or lightly fried. Olive oil is used in everything. Potatoes are served with most meals, either boiled, fried, or mashed into a casserole. There is also plenty of flavorful sausage for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. But Portugal is different from Spain in several distinct ways. Partially because of portugal's exploration of the oceans, their cuisine is influenced by Brazilian food, as well as dishes from Africa and India. First, different wines. Of course, Portugal is where they make port, and we learned that it comes in white, red, or tawny varieties. The white is very rich, sweet, and smooth. Portugal also makes something called green wine, made from a particular variety of grapes in the north. It is very pale in color, closer to yellow than green, but noticeably different from white wine. It is crisp and light, with flavors similar to Chardonnay. Dan and I both liked it, which is unusual, since I prefer sweet and light wine, while he prefers richer full-bodied whites. A second distinction between the Portuguese and the Spanish is how much the Portuguese love pastries! Spanish breakfast is not very exciting, but the Portuguese have all kinds of chocolate, cream and carb-filled delicacies to enjoy in the morning or with a coffee at mid-day. The kids and I enjoyed sampling as many as we could. :-) we also enjoyed some different cheeses: there is hard aged cheese, and also a soft mild cheese called flamenco which is much like gouda. Finally, we noticed that Portuguese bread is much denser, darker, and more crusty than Spanish bread. I did not get a chance to try piri piri chicken, which is made with a particular pepper from North Africa, but I would like to someday.
We had to make several dinners at our apartment, not only for financial reasons, but also out if necessity since most restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Luckily, there was a grocery store at the bottom if our street, so I could explore typical food easily and cheaply. I didn't feel comfortable cooking raw seafood or pork in our tiny apartment oven, but I learned that rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, and cheese make an excellent dinner. For our Christmas meal, we had a leg of pork (with the hoof still attached!), boiled potatoes with olive oil and sea salt, and grilled asparagus with a red wine glaze. And for dessert, a christmas log layered cream cake. Don't worry, pictures are coming! Dining in Portugal is a delicious experience. And the Portuguese make excellent, friendly hosts, speaking English in most restaurants, so I would recommend it to anyone!