Snapshots
& Suitcases

We can't talk about food in Portugal without talking about Pastel de Natas! A pastel de nata is a tart filled with rich egg custard nestled in a buttery, flakey pastry eaten warm and sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this dessert, but once I had one, I couldn't stop! They were fantastic!

Polvo a Lagareiro actually translates to octopus in olive oil! This is a very simple dish consisting of exactly what it sounds like — octopus, olive oil, and garlic. Since it's so simple, it allows the octopus to be the star of the show! I unexpectedly adored this dish as well.

Similar to the Polvo a Lagareiro, this dish is an octopus tentacle surrounded in fresh sourdough bread, and finally smothered in a signature sauce. This is a very unique dish that looks and tastes delicious. I would definitely eat this again!

Bacalhau is the national dish of Portugal, and we ate it in the form of a croquette. The version we ate was crispy outside with cheese and cod inside! The cheese and cod was very strong and wasn't really for me. I would still eat this again, but it's not my favourite.

Even if you don't speak Spanish, I think you'd be able to guess what this traditional dish is! Deep fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar makes up the churro, and thick, hot melted chocolate is the side you dip it in. This exquisite treat is heavenly — I would unquestionably devour this again!

Oxtail stew is made from beef oxtails that become soft and chewy, the excess creating the stew. This stew is very thick, heavy, and creamy. The savory flavor hits the spot, but the dish overall is a bit too heavy. I would enjoy it again though!

A calcot is a long string onion served with romesco sauce that is part of Catalonian cuisine. It is typically grilled and served all around Barcelona — calcot festivals celebrate the coming of spring. Personally, I wasn't a fan. They felt as if they had absorbed the charcoal and were a bit too dry. Even so, they were a great food to try!

Jamón is essentially what ham is to us, but better! It is salted, dry-cured, and thinly sliced. Although typically a savory snack, it is also very popular in sandwiches called "bocadillo de jamón." We enjoyed jamón as a late night snack, a tasty sandwich, and a delectable tapa!

In Madrid, they eat tapas. Tapas are small plates served at restaurants and bars throughout Spain. Tapas aren't just an appetizer — they are a way to socialize. We enjoyed many tapas while in Madrid, including patatas bravas, olives, croquettes, wings, breads, meats & cheeses, meatballs, octopus, and anchovies. Tapas are very essential in Madrid, and now we understand why!

A Spanish classic, paella is a rice dish commonly made with seafood. The paella that we tried had shrimp and mussels and was so rich, creamy and delicious! While delicious, it was perhaps a bit too rich for me.