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The Alentejo is one of the world’s great unsung culinary destinations. Home to scenic vineyards, olive groves and fertile farmlands, the Alentejo is in many ways the gastronomic soul of Portugal. The region produces half the nation’s wine and cooks up some of its most famous dishes. It also holds some of the most authentic restaurants in the country – places which celebrate age-old recipes and the deep Alentejan connection to the soil. Culinary treasures The cooking of the Alentejo isn’t fussy, nor is it particularly lowbrow. It’s simply a showcase of the rich ingredients from a region with centuries-old culinary traditions. Fresh-baked bread, olives, wild mushrooms, asparagus, salted cod, wild boar and olive oil are the building blocks of timeless recipes. Pork is king here, especially porco preto (black pork), a particularly succulent meat that comes from pigs raised in the oak groves…

A cold beer in Portugal has traditionally meant one of two things: Sagres or Super Bock. These two everyman lagers, created during military dictatorships, have dominated the country’s beer landscape for decades. But a hop-heavy suds revolution is brewing in Lisbon and beyond. Europe’s oldest independent capital city is finally embracing the craft beer booze-fest….

Ornate, colourful, marinated in tradition – a taste of Portugal can be very filling. Here are some digestible insider tips: Couvert: there’s one essential commandment regarding Portuguese dining etiquette: whatever you eat you must pay for, whether or not you ordered it. Waiters bring bread, olives and other goodies to your table the moment you sit down. This unordered appetiser is called couvertand can cost anywhere from €1 per person to over €12. If you don’t want it, you can send it away, no offence taken. There’s also no shame in asking the price – ‘quanto e isso?’ Breakfast: the Portuguese don’t really do breakfast. By mid-morning, when peckish, Portuguese nibble on one of a mountain of fresh pastries (including sinful conventual cakes) from one of the many pastelarias. But they won’t go past a bica (an espresso) standing at a bar. Vegetarians: fish-eaters will get by,…

Everyone knows, or at least should known, where the cravos that went to the rifle in the April Revolution came from. The cravo became a symbol of Portugal for the world, the most striking emblem of our country in the twentieth century, joining the fascist regime and revolutionary liberation. However, few know that the cravo is known as the Flower of the Gods. Its scientific name is dianthus caryophyllus. It is an exotic plant, much mentioned in Greek mythology and Roman mythology. It receives, in Rome, the name of “Flower of Jupiter”, to present characteristics similar to the god of the same name, which represents, for the Roman mythology, the same one that Zeus represents for the Greek mythology. Of varied colors, this flower has many petals and also a very straight rectilinear stem, cylindrical and tubular with a beautiful branch….

With this title it is quite possible that you might be thinking about super-foods like: goji berries, acai, spirulina, coconut oil, cocoa, pollen, chia seeds, and even green smoothies. All these have one thing in common, are rich in micronutrients and bioactive compounds (that’s what laboratory tests say) and for this simple reason are associated with particular properties for our health. Watch out But the most important thing is to eat real food (vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts, whole grains, vegetables, eggs, fish, meat …) and good quality, that is, ecological and reliable. The true super-foods are all vegetables, that is, products that the garden gives us: green, red, yellow, orange …, roots, leaves, tubers. The vegetables should be consumed every day at least twice a day. What? Without going into detail, which gives us the garden in each season, as…

The disease-fighting characteristics of mushrooms have been known for centuries now. In the East, mushrooms have been used for its medicinal properties for long now. The West has been a tad bit slow in realizing the health benefits offered by mushrooms though. It is only recently that science has explored the nutritional worth of this fungi. Essentially, mushrooms are complete health packages. These are low in calories and carbohydrates. At the same time, these are loaded with fiber, trace minerals, proteins, and B vitamins. They show anti-inflammatory properties too as they contain beta-glucans compounds which keep the immune cells active. Moreover, mushrooms contain a powerful antioxidant named ergothioneine, which lowers inflammation in the body. On account of this nutritional profile, mushrooms boast the following health benefits: Packed with vitamins Mushrooms are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Both minerals…

Sparkling wine might just be the most technical of all wines in the world–even if it is so easy to drink! The reason most sparkling wine is so complex is because of the need for two fermentations; one to make wine and the other to make bubbles. Since sparkling wines were first introduced (starting in the mid 1500’s), several processes have been developed and each result in a unique sub-style of sparkling wine. Take a look at the major sparkling wine production methods and which wines are made with each technique. How Sparkling Wine is Made There are 6 major methods by which sparkling wines are produced, each resulting in a different carbonation level and, ultimately, a different style of bubbly! We’ll discuss all the styles, but the two worth paying attention to the most are Traditional Method (used for…

Being a vegan can be incredibly rewarding, but it also presents a unique challenge when traveling. With some preparation, it’s easier than ever to eat vegan around the world without much stress. It’s natural to feel anxious about navigating the world as a vegan, but it’s easier now than ever before. No matter where you’re traveling, here are some tips for eating around the world as a vegan! Do your research before you go The recent popularity of the plant-based diet has made eating around the world as a vegan easier than ever before. However, you’ll still need to do your research before you travel. Make sure you’re familiar with the traditional cuisine and determine whether any of those dishes are already vegan or can easily be made vegan. For instance, in general, many Asian countries with a strong Buddhist…

Could “agrihoods” be the key to a happier life? Along the banks of North Carolina’s French Broad River, seven miles outside of Asheville, the very first neighbors in a housing development called Olivette have shuffled their furniture and boxes out of moving trucks and into their brand-new homes. These buyers weren’t drawn by the golf course or community pool—because Olivette doesn’t have those things. The 350-acre development is what founders Scott Austin, Allison Smith, and William Dickerson are calling an “agrihood.” What if, they wondered, we built a neighborhood around a working farm? And that’s exactly what they’ve done. “There is a gentle pull at everyone’s heart these days,” Allison explains. “We want connection with each other andconnection to the land. As gardeners ourselves, we’d noticed that there’s a vital, engaged community around growing food. So a farm seemed like a good way to create…

Finding a truly amazing wine at a price in the sub-$12 realm is actually pretty rare… you could say it’s mythic. When you come across one of these mythic wines you may have experienced an overwhelming sensation of irrational glee and desperation as you buy up as much of the wine as you can. 5 Dry Portuguese Wines That Will Knock Your Socks Off This brings us to the topic of Portugal, which over the last couple of years has been slam dunking it. They continually produce great tasting, high quality wines with shockingly low prices. It’s high time you were in on the secret wine treasures of Portugal. Here are 5 dry wines from Portugal that will blow your face off (in a good way). 1. Douro Reds The Douro River winds treacherously through a rugged, mountainous section of northern Portugal…

There are few things more rewarding to a home gardener than the harvest. Growers spend a lot of time and energy on their hobby and it only makes sense that getting a reward for their labor is a highly anticipated event. So, when harvest time draws near, there are steps growers can take to ensure they harvest correctly and maximize the reward. There are many techniques for harvesting various fruits and vegetables and, in many cases, there is more than one correct way to properly preserve the harvest. The type of crop being grown and the geographical location of the garden will affect the time of harvest and the techniques a grower can use. However, there are some general rules of thumb that can help growers get the most out of their harvests. When to Harvest Your Crops The best…

Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries taste wonderful right off the plant and they offer myriad uses in the kitchen far beyond simple snacking. Imagine picking your own mouth-watering berries fresh from the plant whenever you feel the slightest pang of hunger or sending your kids to pick their own snack. A perfect addition to breakfast, salads, or desserts, berries can be one of the most enjoyable fruit-bearers to grow at home. Plenty of recipes and inspirations lead to delicious culinary creations and your yields will happily freeze for future use. Best of all, you can grow berries at home in containers with very little regard to the size of your yard. Easily avoid the oft-exorbitant cost of buying berries by the carton when you chose to grow your own varieties from the comforts of home, be it in your sunroom…