The food in Portugal is something to be celebrated. Portugal's restaurants and bars are no longer playing second fiddle to neighboring Mediterranean countries. Like any major European culture, Portugal's cuisine is a balance between centuries-old traditions and modern, international influence. In Portugal, you can find traditional tabernas and tascas, which put a heavy emphasis on locally-caught seafood. And a recent recession has helped revive affordable, appetizer-sized pesticos.
Depending on where you are in the country, you will discover unique, regional recipes — like the dark, rich broa bread of the north, and the central Portuguese heaping platters of octopus, rice, and chanfana: goat meat stewed with wine.
Most Portuguese cuisine is unaffected, often consisting of veg and two meat (as opposed to meat and two veg!) or the fish equivalent. Lashings of olive oil, garlic and salt are also the order of the day. However, gourmets need not despair! There are many regional delicacies and the seafood and fish are often superb.