LUCY BURDETTE: Yesterday you heard a bit about our trip to Portugal and Spain. Today is reserved for food. First I should admit that I will never be able to make it as a Spaniard or Portuguese person. The dining hours alone would do me in: lunch between two and 3 o’clock? Dinner after 9 PM? Not a chance I could follow that schedule. (Photo was taken in Lisbon around 7 pm--notice there is NO ONE ELSE eating.:)
I should also admit that, although I am a foodie, I don’t always try things that I think I won’t like. On this trip I did. Here are a few unusual highlights.
Spanish and Portuguese people seem to be obsessed with topping dishes with a fried egg. Artichoke hearts, calamari, mushrooms, all garnished with an egg.
Vegetables are definitely not the stars of the show. Instead, it’s ham, pork, cod, cheese, and repeat. I try not to eat pork products because of the intelligence of pigs, and the way many of them are treated. On this trip, while feeling guilty, I probably ate an entire pig by myself.
Olives, glorious olives are served with most drinks. And not the kind of jarred green Pimento stuffed olives that we are used to in the US.
Churros dipped in thick chocolate are a favorite for breakfast or midmorning snack. I am talking thick!
Sardines are served on everything! Hallie would have been proud of me for trying and enjoying this whitefish on potato chips, which was actually quite delicious.
I also tried the fried calamari, which I never eat for the same reasons I try not to eat pork. Squid are smart, and honestly rather rubbery...
And here was my favorite food of the trip: homemade, crusty sourdough rolls, stuffed with chorizo sausage. That’s one I’ll be dreaming about forever.
What’s the most unusual food that you have tried either inside or out of your own house? (If you find yourself in Madrid, we highly recommend a Devour food tour. Isabel was fantastic!)
