Street Food European Festival

During this days (from 4 to 12 of March) the Street Food European Festival took over the garden of Casino of Estoril for one of the most incredible events... a festival dedicated to the street food with amazing food truck that will blow your mind...

With the perfect weather that Portugal have this event has every thing to a success! As a Foodie I couldn't miss the first day... and it was chaotic! thousands of people... But I dont care the food that I tried was spot on.

I start at Cucina with their Roastbeef Piadina... SPECTACULAR! I start my lunch there and after going home I stop there again for a Salmon Piadina. Piadina is an italian bread (flat round bread) that they stuff with amazing ingredients (specially the Roastbeef).

Next stop... FRUA for a great fruit juice! made on demand in front of the customers... fresh fruit and ice... simple and delicious. Despite the fact that the main sponsor of the event is beer company... fresh fruit doesn't hurt.

The big moment... Conceito Food Truck... This guys have a restaurant in Bicesse called Conceito Food Store and street food is not something that they do on the regular basis so I was curious to see how or if they could carry the concept of the restaurant for something "Street" worthy... and I thing the final result was very positive! They have a lot of complex and interesting dishes that shows the soul of the restaurant. With all the options I only tried the Burger and what a burger and after this one I didn't try any more burger (wouldn't be fair for the other burgers)... the meat was tender and rare (as I had asked) and it was served with caramelized onions and home made mayo.

And the dessert was waffle with Belgian chocolate and almonds at Waffelaria. The waffles were good but I was expecting more... something much closer to original Belgian Waffle... because the smell made travel to Belgium.

Eat Drink Live Enjoy...

Casa Mateus

Casa Mateus... The jewel of Sesimbra.

Sesimbra is a portuguese coast village famous for his amazing fish... and Casa Mateus is the perfect example of this passion for the fish and the local products.

This restaurant is very small (no more than 10 tables... very close to each other... the family spirit!!)... very familiar. The first thing that you notice when you came close to the restaurant are these amazing tiles in the facade of the restaurant.

From now on... my favorite place to eat in Sesimbra.

The food is outstanding... where the tradition meets the new... where traditional dishes get a new presentation (you will understand what I'm saying)...

Since I start talking about the food...

TABIK

The type of restaurant that was missing at Avenida da Liberdade... Fine dining that respects the Portuguese cuisine and all its traditional products without being innovative and creative.

The restaurant itself is very interesting... Right for all types of customer. We can divide the restaurant in three different areas. The back, much more reserved (that everyone can use), in the middle it is the Bar, tall tables and a great selection of gins and finally the entrance, a lot of light and for me best one. 

Before talking about the food I have to say that the service was perfect. Friendly people... Always tried and worried to know if everything was alright and if we are likening... And the best part was that the feedback that you give they make sure to pass the message to the kitchen.

Regarding the food... As you can notice from previous post Every time I can I choose the tasting Menu, and this time was no exception. So the menu has 6 dishes (2 starters, fish, meat, pre-dessert and dessert).

Mayura

Trying new new things makes life much more interesting... So it was time to try Indian food.

I didn't try it earlier because my relationship with spicy food its not the best. 

If you gonna try something new... make sure you choose a great place! so I did my research and I found great reviews to Mayura.

This Restaurant is located in Cascais, One of the most emblematic places of Portugal.

The restaurant has the classic look of indian restaurant... the decoration... and vibe! everything.

The best way to get the real feeling of the culture and food is to order several dish... all different! So we order 6 dishes...

Este Oeste

Food from the West to the East... It starts in Japan, with sushi, and ends in Italy, with pizzas! A very risky stratagy sice its two very different kind of cusines.

The space itself is amazing... starting with the main entrance where it is the bar. The all environment floats around this giant round sofa in the middle!!! the perfect place to spend the afternoon...

Passing to the restaurant! a very clean and modern decoration, very well adjusted to building itself (Centro Cultural de Belém). However, I don't know if it was just on that day or not, but I felt that the tables were really close from each other.      

Before I start "talking" about the food, I need to highlight the service... the employees were very nice, helpful and thoughtful.

About the Food... this time we choose the East side!

Jardim dos Sentidos

Vegetarian food! I never was a big fan of this type of food, probably because I never went to a restaurant who done it properly. 

So when I was invited to go to this restaurant... I try not to have high expectations... But thankfully, they prove me that there are some places who can do it right... I wasn't perfect but the best vegetarian experience so far.

Finally I found a good vegetarian restaurant! its not easy someone give me Seitan instead of a good protein. 

The restaurant is very cozy... But the climatization is not the best!

So, about the food...

Assinatura

Assinatura! A restaurant that should be located in one of the best avenues of Lisbon. Its location its not bad but deserved a more emblematic and premium location. 

The restaurant itself is quite cozy and pleasant. Great to catch up with a friend, for special occasions... in fact great for any occasion... due to the amazing food. 

Since we start talking about the food... the menu is small (as it should be... do a few but do it really well) and has great choices... making the decision process a little bit hard...

Culto

New restaurant next to the Castle... where tradition  meet the innovation.

Culto is the most recent restaurant of Palmela.

Palmela is a small village famous for the Castle the gastronomy (traditional pastry and amazing local products like the wine or olive oil).

So in the other day, me and a few friends were looking for a restaurant for us to do a little reunion and one of them suggested this restaurant... And why not?

When we arrive there the restaurant was empty... and I think to my self! "maybe it wasn't the best choice" but we stay of course... in fact! I kinda like it... it not every day that you have a restaurant for yourself even just for couple of hours... Later I realize that people are using this place more like a Cafe/bar than a restaurant... and its their loss because food is really good.

Since I start talking about the food...

ENTRA

A restaurant located in industrial area of Marvila. Restaurant ENTRA serves amazing food, in a very relax space with an exquisite service.  

It's true that the area is not the best... but I don't care! I only care about the food that they served... and they served us consistent food through the entire meal.

Even with the complete restaurant booked... you don't see the staff run over each other.   

Regarding the food...

A Reitoria

Restoria is restaurant located in Oporto (Praça de Gomes Teixeira).

This restaurant was a complete surprise! From the outside you can't guess the type of restaurant that it is.

In the ground floor you eat this good looking gourmet sandwiches... Good looking because I didn't try it... I preferred to go upstairs and try the restaurant... The restaurant is minimalist, very clean and small... which makes it very exclusive and selective.

The food was very very good...

O Antigo Carteiro

O Antigo Carteiro was an unexpected choice... and Why?

So I was exploring all this non-touristic street and after walking a lot (and I mean A LOT!!!!!!), the time passed so fast that when look to the clock it was time to lunch (and also my stomach was telling me that for awhile) and I stopped in front of this restaurant (an old building but with a really modern sign...) but I didn't pay to much attention until this guy tell us that the restaurant is very good (by the way... the guy works at the restaurant, but we didn't know at the time).

We decided to try it... GOOD CHOICE!

The food was very tasteful.

Apicius

My first Foodie Meetup with Zomato...


For those who doesn't know Zomato an online platform where you can find the restaurants around you and, after you visit them, you can write your opinion about it.

So in the other they invited a group of foodies, including me, to have dinner at Apicius... and the theme of the dinner was FOIE GRAS... Luxury =P.

The food wasn't made just for us... They served us dishes that they have in their current menu... Since the all purpose of this meetup was to shoe us this new restaurant and his menu.

The restaurant has a really cool vibe, very relaxed and its very well decorated.

So about the food...

Cafetaria Mensagem - Altis Belém Hotel and Spa

Finally I when to Cafetaria Mensagem... 

Cafetaria Mensagem is one of the restaurants of Altis Belem Hotel & SPA.

This hotel has 1 michelin star restaurant, Feitoria Restaurant and Wine bar (headed by Chef João Rodrigues) - Also on my wishlist - So you could say that Cafetaria Mensagem is "the little brother" with a lot of potential.

The restaurant is located between Padrão dos Descobrimentos and Torre de Belém, with an amazing view over Tagus river. The space is very simple and not overdecorated.

Since it is integrated in a 5-star hotel, the service is impeccable.

This restaurant is famous for it's Brunches but deserve must more.

So let's talk about the food...    

Sea Me - Peixaria Moderna

Sea Me - Peixaria Moderna is a really cool restaurant dedicated to the fish.

Lisbon downtown has the most amazing restaurant and this one is one of them.

Fully dedicated to the fish the restaurant present three different concepts in one place...

Bar...

Sushi-Bar...

Restaurant...

Each one with their own menu... 

Poison D'Amour

Poison D'Amour...

Poison D'Amour it's a Cafe/Pastry Shop located at Principe Real next to the National Museum of Natural History, Lisbon.

It's very discrete and quiet but the best part is the terrace in the back... And Why?... Because the terrace confines with the Lisbon University' Botanical Garden thats why...

Brunch at Grande Real Villa Itália

Let's go brunch...

So in the other day I went to a brunch... yeah! It was my first brunch.

There is nothing better then gathering a few close friends and go to nice restaurant to eat.

So we went to Restaurante Navegante at Grande Real Villa Itália Hotel in Cascais.

Favas Contadas 2.0 - Appearances can be deceiving

What to say about a dinner made by pastry chefs... On the 22 and 23 of August, at Conceito Food Store restaurant (driven by the Chef Daniel Estriga) , took place the second dinner of Favas Contadas. This event has as main goal to promote the work of young chefs.

I have to say that it was an outstanding dinner... full of surprises!!!! 

In this this dinner most of the dishes resembled a dessert or a sweet... and all of them were followed by this amazing cocktail created by "Ás de Copos" bar. 

Needless to say that the expectations were high due the success of the first event.

As I mentioned in the previews post the chefs were: 

• Chef Daniel Estriga
• Chef Diogo Lopes (pastry Chef)
• Sara Soares (Pastry Chef)
• Zé Pedro (Pastry Chef)

To know more about this chef see the last post.  
And the cocktail were responsability of:

• Miguel Tojal (bartender) and owner of "Ás de Copos" bar

• Website: http://www.asdecopos.com/

But let's talk about the food and the drinks... 

Mercado da Ribeira

A great place to hangout...

Mercado da Ribeira (Ribeira's Market) opened recently close to Cais do Sodré. This new spot brings a new live to this area... if you are visiting Lisbon this is one of the places that you can't miss.

Favas Contadas 2.0

So do you remember my last post about the restaurant Conceito Food Store (if you don't... go check it! it's worth it)...

In that post I wrote about the dinner that they planned called " Two nights in Japan", the first one integrated in the "Favas Contadas", which, by the way, was a success... two nights completely sold out...

A second event is coming! and this time it looks even better... You want to know why? Because this dinner will be prepared only by pastry chefs!!!!... This can only mean one thing... I will fulfill one of my childhood dreams... DESSERT FOR DINNER!!

Restaurant Week... 1300 Taberna

As I told before the Restaurant Week event is such an opportunity to try the best restaurants at accessible price.


In this post I will talk about another food experience that I had... This time at 1300 Taberna.


This restaurant is located in one of the most amazing places of Lisbon... The LX FACTORY a recovered industrial area with a lot of new restaurants, shops, bar, etc...


This space is very cool and very different... with an open kitchen, excellent food and a very different decoration.