Fish in Lisbon
English*
Fish in Lisbon
For seafood,it is hard to do better than the Atlantic-seaboard capital
of a nation that is crazy about fish.
Portugal Consumes more fish per capita that any other country in Europe, and one of
the best places to experience this piscine passion is Lisbon's Bairro Alto - the lively "high town" of narrow streets,set above the grid of the city's central baixa (Lower Town) and the Tagus estuary. Up here,the air fills in summer with the smell of sardines being grilled on makeshift barbecues,and dozens of restaurants offer menus crammed with octopus,squid,crab,clams,shrimp,scallops,swordfish,mackerel,hake, and bacalhau ( salted cod ).
At heart, Portuguese food is the food of the people.So why not try your luck at the Toma Lá Dá Cá, a popular family restaurant just south of the Bairro Alto?
Any kind of fish may be served here,but it is likely that bacalhau will be on the menu.In Portugal bacalhau comes as a starter called pastéis de bacalhau(deep fried fish balls), as bacalhau à brás (with onions,potatoes,and egss=, as bacalhau com pimento e chouriço( with pepper and sausage),and as bacalhau com molho de caril (with curry sauce). In fact,there are said to be 365 different ways to cook bacalhau - one for every day of the year. If you want to enjoy a similar menu in grander surroundings.
When to Go - Late April and early May are the best time - the air is fresh and the streets are filled with flowers.
Lisbon is lively year-round,but temperatures can go above 90ºF( 32ºC )in July and August.
Planning - The Bairro Alto is also a center for clubs, nightlife, and plaintive traditional fado singing.
The Portuguese tend to start their evening meal late, around 10pm, and restaurants stay open until 2am.
Toma Lá Dá Cá is at Travessa do Sequeiro 28(no bookings).
Websites - www.visitportugal.com, www.golisbon.com