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F&W Photo Tour: Portugal

F&W Photo Tour: Portugal

By Food & Wine

Updated June 16, 2016

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Photo © Laura La Monaca

Photographer Laura La Monaca shows off Portugal's incredible food scene.

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Pastel de Nata

Photo © Laura La Monaca

The Pastel de Nata is probably the most famous Portuguese pastry in the world. This egg tart is the best way to start or end your day.

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Pão Cafe e Companhia

Photo © Laura La Monaca

After a day at the beach, you probably need something sweet. Go to PIQo Cafe e Companhia. The bolo de mel e noz—cake with honey and hazelnuts—is the perfect way to re-energize yourself.

Portuguese Recipes

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Pão Cafe e Companhia

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Here you can find the pão de rala—a typical sweet bread from the convent tradition of the Alentejo region. It is made with almonds, sweet squash and eggs.

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Restaurante O Lavrador

Photo © Laura La Monaca

On the Rota Vicentina, a long-distance path along the Alentejo and the Algarve coast, there is Almograve—a tiny village with one beach and a few restaurants. Stop by O Lavrador for some fresh-caught, grilled sardines.

Whole Fish Recipes

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Bolo de Arroz

Photo © Laura La Monaca

The Bolo de Arroz, a muffin made with rice flour, is typically found in Portuguese breakfasts alongside a cup of coffee.

Portuguese Recipes

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Museo Do Arroz

Photo © Laura La Monaca

The Alentejo is an agricultural region rich in history and unspoiled landscapes. The north side of Alentejo, the Comporta area, is surrounded by rice fields. In their midst, there’s Museu do Arroz—a rice factory restored in 1996 and transformed into a restaurant specializing in rice dishes. restaurantemuseudoarroz.com

Chef Dream Trips: Portugal

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Museo Do Arroz

Photo © Laura La Monaca

In this take on fish and chips, a fish fillet is served with a bowl of rice with clams and pod razor. restaurantemuseudoarroz.com

One Bowl Rice Dishes

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Museo Do Arroz

Photo © Laura La Monaca

This heavenly rice pudding is the perfect way to end your lunch in this lovely place.

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Stork’s Nest

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Comporta is not a touristy destination. That must be what the storks were thinking when they chose the roofs here to make their nests. Look up while driving and you’ll see many storks caring for their nests. And be sure to check out the Praia de Comporta—a strip of white sand and pristine water.

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Vila Nova de Milfontes

Photo © Laura La Monaca

About an hour drive south of Comporta, you’ll find Vila Nova de Milfontes. This village is located between the Atlantic Ocean coast and the Mira River, and it’s dominated by tiny white houses. Drive over unpaved roads to reach some beautiful beaches, including Malhão and Praia do Brejo Largo.

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Vila Nova de Milfontes Tasca do Celso

Photo © Laura La Monaca

From the outside, Tasca do Celso looks like a private house. Inside, you’ll find a beautiful place with two different styles—the first: traditional wine bar; the second: vibrant color with saddles and horseshoes on the walls. Tasca do Celso - Rua dos Aviadores, Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal

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Tasca do Celso

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Portugal is world-famous for its bacalhau (cod fish). 9 Try the massinha de bacalhau with beans and clams. The original version of this dish is made with pasta, but since you are in the region of arroz, ask for rice instead.

Healthy Fish Recipes

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Portinho do Canal

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Just outside the city center of Vila Nova de Milfontes, you’ll find this small family-owned restaurant with a terrace over the coast. The seafood here is fresh and delicious.

Crab Recipes

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Natural Cork

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Portugal is the world’s leading producer of natural cork. The harvest runs from May until August, and if you drive through the Alentejo during those months, you’ll encounter the beauty of this raw material.

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Praia de Odeceixe Mar

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Praia de Odeceixe Mar is inside the Vicentine Coast Natural Park, on the border between the Alentejo and the Algarve coast. With plentiful surf schools and small waves, it is the perfect place to learn how to surf.

Chef Dream Trips: Portugal

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Cabo de São Vicente

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point of Portugal, is where the Rota Vicentina ends. There you can enjoy an amazing view from the cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean. Don’t miss the sunset!

Portuguese Recipes

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Sagres

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Near Cabo de São Vicente is Sagres—a fishing village known for its fortress and for some beautiful stretches of coastline. At 4 p.m. in the fishing port you can see the fishermen unloading the boats with freshly caught fish and seafood like monkfish, lobsters and crabs.

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Crabs

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Freshly caught crabs from the fishing port of Sagres

Crab Recipes

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Tonel Beach

Photo © Laura La Monaca

From the fortress of Sagres you can see Cabo de São Vicente. Among the cliffs appears a little piece of coastline, Tonel Beach, which is perfect for surfing.

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Ponta da Piedade

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Ponta da Piedade, near Lagos, is a masterpiece of Mother Nature. You can reach the sea stacks via boat from Lagos.

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Porto Mos

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Lagos has some of the best beaches in the Algarve, close to the city center. Porto Mos is one of them. Its red cliffs and white sand will make you feel like you are in heaven. Many of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches can only be reached by hiking, but it’s worth the effort.

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Faro

Photo © Laura La Monaca

Faro is the chief city in the Algarve region. It houses the region’s only airport, but it’s still quite calm and not very touristy. It is located in the middle of the Ria Formosa Natural Park and its narrow streets will win you over.

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Faro

Photo © Laura La Monaca

The architecture in Faro is characterized by the azulejos: hand-painted ceramic tiles. They cover the facades of the buildings in every single corner of this lovely city.

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Ilha Deserta

From Faro, take a ferry to Ilha Deserta (Desert Island). At 10€, the round-trip is a bit expensive, but takes you to one the Ria Formusa Natural Park’s best beaches. The only signs of human touch are a lighthouse and the Estaminè Restaurant. animaris.pt

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Mussels

Order the mussels as a starter before enjoying the grilled fish of the day.

Quick Shellfish

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Ilha do Farol

Ilha do Farol (Lighthouse Island) features cute shops, restaurant and cafes.

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Ilha do Farol

On the facade of this tiny white house in the Ilha do Farol, azulejos are painted with a poem dedicated to the lighthouse island, the Island of Love.

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Olhão

Olhão is the major port of the Algarve. Along the waterfront you will pass through a red building that holds the fish market. Clams (conquilhas) and seafood are the main products from the Ria Formosa area.

Clams Recipes

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Tavira

The city of Tavira was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. Its narrow streets and cozy cafes make it the perfect place to start exploring this part of the Algarve.

Chef Dream Trips: Portugal

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Tavira Church

Tavira has 37 churches. This is a detail of the bell tower of the Santiago Church. As well as for other buildings in Tavira, the restoration of this Church took several years after the damages of the earthquake of 1755.

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Ilha de Tavira

Take a boat to Ilha de Tavira and have lunch in one of the beautiful restaurants and cafes. Order conquilhas and fresh fish you won’t be disappointed!

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Cacela Velha

Cacela Velha is a small village on the top of a hill with a beautiful view over the Ria Formosa. White houses and a lively atmosphere make it a magical place.

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Cacela Velha Sqaure

At sunset the central square is the right place for a drink.

Portuguese Recipes

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Ria Formosa Natural Park

Aerial view over the Ria Formosa Natural Park.

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F&W Photo Tour: Portugal

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Pastel de Nata

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Pão Cafe e Companhia

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Pão Cafe e Companhia

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Restaurante O Lavrador

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Bolo de Arroz

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Museo Do Arroz

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Museo Do Arroz

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Museo Do Arroz

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Stork’s Nest

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Vila Nova de Milfontes

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Vila Nova de Milfontes Tasca do Celso

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Tasca do Celso

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Portinho do Canal

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Natural Cork

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Praia de Odeceixe Mar

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Cabo de São Vicente

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Sagres

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Crabs

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Tonel Beach

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Ponta da Piedade

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Porto Mos

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Faro

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Faro

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Ilha Deserta

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Mussels

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Ilha do Farol

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