A description of the flavor profile of port wine.
Revamped Article:
A Culinary Adventure Through the Heart of Porto
por Jessica Johnson
Are you craving a trip that combines history, culture, and mouthwatering food? Porto, Portugal might just be the destination you seek. With its lively streets, UNESCO World Heritage Site old town, and myriad dining options, Porto promises an unforgettable culinary adventure.
Sylvie da Silva's latest book, "Porto," offers an intimate glimpse into the rich tapestry of this delightful city. Filled with beautiful photographs, authentic stories, and a wonderful assortment of traditional and contemporary recipes, it's a perfect companion for food lovers planning their next getaway.
A Must-Have for Culinary Travelers
If finding a memorable guidebook that doubles as a cookbook is your idea of a win-win scenario, then Sylvie da Silva's "Porto" is for you. Available on amazon.de, this book from Südwest Verlag boasts a stunning cover adorned with the famous azulejos ceramic tiles, giving you a taste of what lies within its pages. Packed with over 200 pages of history, information, background stories, restaurant recommendations, souvenir ideas, tips for specialties, and of course, recipes, it's a treasure trove for culinary enthusiasts.
To help you along, the book includes a small gastronomic vocabulary, including essential phrases like "thank you very much" and the friendly way to say "hello" in Portuguese. To top it off, the book includes approximately 120 color photos that beautifully capture the essence of Porto's most charming spots. For those who appreciate cooking, you'll be delighted to learn that the book contains over 50 traditional and modern recipes!
Something for Everyone - From the Simplest to the Challenging
As heir to both French and Portuguese heritage, Sylvie da Silva has developed a passion for cooking that grew from her travels and solidified with the discovery of international cuisines. Filled with stories about the land and its people, the book includes recipes and insights into the region's cuisine, with a focus on fish, fruits, and vegetables. Da Silva provides information about Porto's cherished market hall, Matosinhos, and offers guidance on how to make a day trip there using public transportation.
Don't miss the annual celebration of St. John's Day (June 24th) for a unique, local experience, complete with massive amounts of grilled sardines, traditional dishes, and, of course, plenty of Port wine and cake! For those eager to explore Porto's diverse eateries, Sylvie da Silva introduces renowned "new" chefs who serve up modern takes on traditional dishes and present their own interpretations of Porto's cuisine. Intriguingly, the book features a helpful list of the author's favorite addresses in Porto, from restaurants and bakeries to delis and wine bars.
Rediscovering Portuguese Cuisine
Portuguese cuisine is more diverse and captivating than you might think. As Sylvie da Silva notes, you'll want to leave behind any preconceived notions of greasy, fried, or heavily-codfish-focused dishes. The flavors are simple yet unique, extracted from high-quality local ingredients with a proficiency for cooking methods that satisfy gourmets.
Although codfish plays an essential role in many traditional recipes (so much so that there are supposedly 365 codfish recipes for each day of the year!), Portugal offers much more than just cod. Da Silva's book helps demystify codfish, providing information on where and when to purchase it, as well as instructions on how to salt and poach it.
Traditional Recipes to Try
Enjoy the delightful flavors of Porto's culinary scene with some of Sylvie da Silva's favorite recipes:
Grilled Chicken à la My Father (Frango assado do meu pai)
Ingredients:
- 1 whole free-range chicken (approx. 1 kg)
- Coarse salt
- 1/2 cup peanut oil
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 pinches Piri-Piri
Instructions:
- Preheat the grill or oven grill.
- Season the chicken with coarse salt and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Combine oil, wine, garlic, bay leaf, paprika, and Piri-Piri in a small pot over medium heat. Remove from heat just before boiling, then cover and let the sauce infuse.
- Brush the chicken with the sauce while grilling, turning it regularly until it's golden brown.
Dorada with Oven Potatoes (Peixe assado no forno com batatas)
Ingredients:
- 4 thick steaks of dorada (or cod)
- 1 tbsp Fleur de Sel
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 12 medium potatoes
- 1 l water
- 1 handful coarse salt
- 2 medium onions, peeled
- 3 tomatoes
- 2 green bell peppers
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 6 sprigs fresh parsley
- 4 bay leaves
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, pepper
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (top/bottom heat).
- Marinate the fish with Fleur de Sel and lemon juice.
- Place the halved potatoes with skin, water, and coarse salt in a pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for approximately 15 minutes.
- Drain potatoes, cut veggies, and herbs, then distribute them in a large ovenproof dish.
- Season the dorada steaks, place them on top, and pour in the white wine, oil, and seasonings.
- Bake for 30 minutes, regularly basting the fish with the juices and basting the potatoes halfway through cooking.
Tia Leta's Rum-Glazed Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Ingredients:
- 150g soft butter
- 270g powdered sugar
- 1 packet vanilla sugar
- 3 eggs
- 150g flour
- 1 packet baking powder
- 1 can of pineapple slices (8 slices)
- 3 tbsp dark rum
- Juice from the pineapple can
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (top/bottom heat).
- Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla sugar in a bowl.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well in between. Add the sifted flour and baking powder, then mix to a smooth batter and let it rest for a moment.
- Prepare a springform pan with melted sugar, layer pineapple slices on top, and pour the batter over them.
- Bake for 35 minutes, then release from mold and pour rum-pineapple juice mixture over the cake.
For more information, recipes, and dining suggestions in the beautiful city of Porto, we recommend Sylvie Da Silva's "Porto." Buon appetito!
Source: ntv.de
- Porto
- Reviews
- Food and Cooking
- Notable Restaurants and Taverns:
- Taberna dos Mercadores (Mediterranean, European, Portuguese)
- Taberna dos Fernandes (Seafood, Mediterranean)
- Restaurante Compadre (African, Latin, Portuguese fusion)
- Só Tapas (Traditional Portuguese with modern twists)
- Aniki (Modern and traditional Portuguese)
- O Fado (Traditional Fado House with family-run kitchen)
- Taberna Real do Fado (Traditional Fado House with warm atmosphere)
- Immerse yourself in the French influence on Porto's lifestyle, food-and-drink, and travel experiences as Sylvie da Silva's "Porto" book provides insights into the city's rich heritage, offering authentic recipes and dining recommendations, including Taberna dos Mercadores, a Mediterranean, European, and Portuguese fusion restaurant.
- Elevate your French-Portuguese culinary adventure with Sylvie da Silva's "Porto" book, providing a gastronomic journey through Porto's market halls, recipes, and local specialties, such as Tia Leta's Rum-Glazed Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, exemplifying the unique fusion of cultures in this delightful city.
