Tuesday 15 September 2015

192 cuisines | Portugal

I want to try some food from all 192 countries in the world. Whether I pick it up at a market stall, get served in a fancy restaurant or try to cook it myself does not matter. The more authentic, the better.








After telling some friends about the idea for this project, they excitedly chimed in that their favourite bakery, a nice half hour away, was Portuguese and served the best "Pastel de nata" in London. Neither the lovely stroll along the canal nor the pastries were a disappointment. Situated at the top of Portobello road in London, this authentic bakery has been handing out their very reasonably priced baked good for years. The area is visibly falling to gentrification so I was particularly delighted to find this shop looking like it probably always has. Nearby are some Portuguese grocery shops, which are the last hints of the local population that is slowly moving on. I have a vague hope that the Lissboa Patisserie is going to be around for a very long time, fuelled by the number of people picking up Pastel de nata or any of their other delicacies.

The food was truly divine. Crumbly and soft and sweet, in exactly the right way. There are few things worse than bad puff pastry, and this was possibly some of the best I have ever had. It looks burnt in the picture but that's just the way they are meant to be and it didn't taste burnt at all. Just of perfectly set custard and a sweet sugar glaze.

If you are ever in this part of London, do go and check it out. That being said, the opening hours can be a bit erratic as they just run out when they run out. I like that in a bakery.



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