Well, for a small country on the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal has much to offer. Its name derives from the Roman name Portus Cale, and it is the home of Vasco da Gama. It has the 19th-highest standard of life, and it is the 8th most globalized country in the world - not surprising in view of its location, actually.
Because it borders the ocean, one of the traditional dishes is Bacalhau, or smoked cod, for which the Portuguese have as many ways to prepare as there are days in the year. But I could not bring myself to make it, probably only because I discovered that it needed to be soaked for hours before using in any recipes....oops, too late for that! So we settled instead for Bife A Portuguesa, with Batatas A Portuguesa. Much to my surprise, the meal was enjoyed by all, even my finicky son who usually does not like beef. A simple meal to make, with a complicated beverage choice! Portugal has an extensive wine selection, far more than I expected to encounter. I did learn something about the incredible variety of wines, from the Vinhos Verdes region to the Dão region of the country. Ultimately, I chose a Gazela Vinhos Verdes, a young almost sparkling white, to accompany the meal preparation, and then a lovely red, Doque de Viseu Quinta Dos, for the meal itself. The white was recommended by one of the associates at the local MLCC, which she said became quite popular following last year's Portuguese pavilion at Folklarama. I am not really a fan of sweeter wines, so the white was simply okay. But the red was, well, fabulous might be an understatement!
saude
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