“So what does Lisbon actually taste like?” A central & certainly important question in a capital city that revels in FOOD LOVE: Street Food European Festival, World Food Tourism Summit, you name it. This being my third visit to the Portuguese capital, I have come here once more to find answers to the above-mentioned question by joining dear Filipa, of Taste of Lisboa Food Tours for yet another delightful food tour in Lisbon. It turns out I am not alone in my quest.
“Lisbon is for the sweet tooth & savoury tigers alike …”
Word by my dear friend & fellow Austrian travel writer Gudrun Krinzinger, whose recent post “Wie schmeckt Lissabon?” will give you all the reasons (and mouth-watering pictures) you need in order to go on a tour like that. I will now try my best to convince you of the same for a delicious Campo de Ourique morning food tour with Taste of Lisboa Food Tours. Because yes, you can choose to “eat your way through Lisbon” morning, afternoon or evening. Whatever your need, desire or inclination: Portuguese will have a foodie answer to that. 😀
If there is one thing you cannot avoid in Portugal, it is food. Love then joins in as a most natural companion, too. By the end of a Portuguese Food Tour, you are ready to move to Portugal. Honestly.
I am #foodlover #winelover #Portugallover. I honestly admit to being all of that, and more. Joining a food tour is therefore something totally normal to me, even (or especially) right after landing in Lisbon & switching back to the local lingo as if no time had passed since my last visit. My soul has found a home here, and rightly so. It does have a lot to do with the tasty flavours of this country, and Taste of Lisboa Food Tours happens to offers some really good ones of those. Let me take you by the hand and show you what I mean …
The food market in Campo de Ourique is our meeting place for joining Filipa on one of her “Taste of Lisboa Food Tours” …
… receiving a warm welcome & lots of useful tips and explanations even ahead of our foodie walk around town!
Campo de Ourique, in case you are wondering, is easy to find: Just hop on the iconic #28 Tram, which has a stop here right by our meeting point.
Morning magic: Sitting at the table with fellow foodie travellers turned friends in no time …
… a natural occurrence over a most delightful, spongy chocolate cake that the owner is proud enough to call “Best In The World” … I can definitely see, or rather, taste where he is coming from!
The second stop on our total of six foodie stops around Campo de Ourique district of Lisbon …
… is Campo de Ourique Market itself, where sardines & codfish, a Portuguese classic, are fresh & ready to greet us …
… as well as the local “fishermen’s friends” at their most natural.!
Savoury #foodlover’s time it is …
… before heading over to more sweet stuff, typical & beautiful “Pasteis de Nata” custard tarts from Portugal!
Oh my. What about all those calories taken in during a Lisbon Food Tour? Luckily for us, the city was built on several hills …!
A food tour is an actual walking tour of the city district you are visiting, such as Mouraria or Campo de Ourique in the case of Taste of Lisboa Food Tours. Both districts’ walking tours will literally “lead you astray”, away from the typical tourist neighbourhoods and right into some of the small streets. It is here where the local people live, breathe, eat, laugh and argue (and sometimes all of that). Most times, it will make you feel at home yourself, away from being a tourist to passing as an actual traveller, or “temporary citizen“.
“I like that”, Filipa nods in agreement, smiling cheerfully as I talk to her about the concept of creative travel and how interactive culture experiences can help you build a stronger, deeper and more meaningful connection with the place you are visiting. “Let’s have some more food then!”
The way to a traveller’s heart is definitely through food around here.
Filipa serving us from the bar at “Chiringuito” restaurant …
… a place that has us all feel truly welcome: Food Love among friends it is.
Really enjoy the food & wine tasting that follows, too, complete with cheese & quince jelly called “Romeo & Juliet” in the local expression …
… as well as chatting to the owner of this food tour stop, Oficina do Vinho in Lisbon’s peaceful Ourique district.
The tour unwinds with drinks from this gentleman …
… and a relaxed mouthful of (another) delicious sponge cake served at the Portuguese School of Hospitality. Ready to move and study here – or maybe just relax?
Walking off those #foodlover calories …
… Lisbon boasts many a beautiful places to stop and be enchanted by their magic, such as right by the “Ribeira” of the Rio Tejo.
Foodie fans should also consider heading to Mercado da Ribeira, a recently refurbished and very chic (and tasty!) food market right by Cais do Sodré …
… and if all else fails, simply succumb to the beautiful sunshine and great city vibe. See you in Lisbon!
Disclaimer: Thank you, dear Filipa Valente, for offering to invite me on this Taste Of Lisboa Food Tour. All opinions are my own.