Wednesday 18 March 2020

These are Extraordinary Times | Keep Hope Alive



These are extraordinary times! 

Times that have turned our lives and plans upside down and that makes us fear. Fear for us, for our loved ones, for the economy and our way of living. Fear that the changes that will come out of this will be unwanted, menacing and difficult to cope with. And yet, this time to stop can be an opportunity to balance our priorities and ascertain our true values. It can be a moment to look deep inside, work and strengthen our core. Extraordinary times are, often, the fire that forges our growth. That's that inner journey that we can (and must) take now! 

This is, perhaps, the most challenging moment humanity has faced since the last world war and never before we have lived such a predicament as a global community as we do with the coronavirus crisis. Stranded at home or trying to get there, working in the front line (like health care,  and so many others in critical positions to whom we are deeply grateful) or doing our part from home, all of us are facing a new and scary situation. In the face of peril and of possible loss, fear, anxiety, and feelings of distress are common and normal responses. 





To deal adaptively with this challenge:

Keep informed and look for answers in trustable sources, but avoid being constantly feeding on the news;

Connect with friends and family using the internet or phone;

Keep a structured activity: wake up at a regular time, shower, dress and feel comfortable and beautiful, clean the house and cook meals, read, make exercise, listen to music, dance, interact with others (even if remotely), write,  exercise your creative skills (drawing, painting, photography,...), learn a new skill;

Relax: breath, meditate, take a nap, do nothing!







During the following weeks, I'll try to bring you posts that you can relate to, feeding you wanderlust but also accounting for the constraints that the quarantine situation is imposing in most of us.

Till the next post...

Keep safe and keep hope alive!







Wednesday 11 March 2020

Food Chronicles | O Boteco (Lisbon)

Photo via O Boteco


O Boteco is Chef Kiko's latest restaurant, which at the heart of Largo Camões, in Chiado, could not have a better location. The interior is unpretentious, as expected from a good "boteco", a traditional establishment without luxuries. The atmosphere is relaxed and cheerful, and the decor is captivating, combining Portuguese and Brazilian elements in a successful wedding. The high ceilings, the panoramic windows that, during the day, flood the room with light, the chandelier of green bottles, which I had only seen in Brazil, and a stunning piece from Bordalo II, that unites Portugal and Brazil in one boat that carries symbols and images of these two poles of the Portuguese language, complete the scenery for the gastronomical experience.

Francisco Martins (Kiko) was born and spent the first 11 years of life in Brazil and this restaurant brings the memories of those childhood years on the menu. "Farofa", "pastéis de vento", "tapioca", "feijoada" and "quindim", cross the menu and, through the Chef's creativity, touch, here and there, very Portuguese flavors like clams, octopus and "pastel de nata".

A beautiful location and inspired cuisine are also supported by a professional, friendly and dynamic service that ends up offsetting the need for waiting that the strong influx of clients can condition.



O Boteco é o mais recente restaurante do Chef Kiko, que em pleno Largo Camões, no Chiado, não poderia ter melhor localização. O interior é despojado, como manda a um bom boteco, estabelecimento tradicionalmente sem luxos, a atmosfera descontraída e alegre, e a decoração cativante, cruzando elementos portugueses e brasileiros num casamento bem conseguido. O pé direito a perder de vista, as janelas panorâmicas que, durante o dia inundam a sala de luz, o lustre de garrafas verdes, que eu só tinha visto no Brasil, e uma impressionate peça de Bordalo II que une Portugal e Brasil num barco que carrega símbolos e imagens destes dois polos da língua portuguesa, completam o cenário para esta experiência gastronónica.

Francisco Martins (Kiko) nasceu e passou os primeiros 11 anos de vida no Brasil e este restaurante traz no menu as memórias desses anos de infância. Farofa, pastéis de vento, tapioca, feijoada e quindim, cruzam o menu e, através da criatividade do Chef, tocam aqui e ali sabores bem portugueses das amêijoas, do polvo e do pastel de nata.

Um local bonito e uma cozinha inspirada são ainda apoiados por um serviço profissional, cordial e dinâmico que acaba por compensar a necessidade de espera que a forte afluência de clientes pode condicionar. 






Curious? So were we,  and decided to use the excuse of a dinner with friends to visit O Boteco. Of the many wonderful experiences we brought from our 5 years in Brazil, the friendships we made there are among the most valuable. And when it comes to choosing a place to meet a couple of old and dear friends from our Brazilian days, no other restaurant could be more appropriate.

Boteco presents a wide variety of starters and petiscos, strongly inspired by Brazilian flavors. We chose Cozido à Portuguesa croquettes, the most Portuguese choice on the menu and we have no regrets. They were so good that we had to repeat. All duly accompanied by the unavoidable caipirinhas (one of lemon and the other of passion fruit!) and ice cold beers, as the tradition of any self-respecting "boteco" requires.



Curiosos? Nós também estávamos e decidimos aproveitar um jantar com amigos para visitar O Boteco. Das muitas vivências maravilhosas que trouxemos dos nossos 5 anos no Brasil, as amizades que aí fizemos são das mais valiosas. E no momento de escolher um local para revermos um casal amigo, nenhum outro restaurante poderia ser mais apropriado. 

O Boteco apresenta uma grande variedade de entradas / petiscos, fortemente inspiradas nos sabores brasileiros. Nós optámos pelos croquetes de cozido, a escolha mais portuguesa do cardápio e não nos arrependemos. Estavam tão bons que tivemos de repetir. Tudo devidamente acompanhado pelas incontornáveis caipirinhas (uma de limão e a outra de maracujá!) e por cervejas geladas, como manda a tradição de qualquer boteco que se preze.


Photo via O Boteco

Photo via O Boteco

Photo via O Boteco


In the main dishes, there are also several alternatives, including a vegetarian dish. The men opted for the Brazilian feijoada and the wagyu "picanha", while the ladies did not hesitate to choose the shrimp and codfish "bobó", that was superb. The tasty feijoada, left the hubby longing for more, while and the meat, super tender, perfectly satisfied.

At dessert time I didn't think twice. I had done my homework and the choice was made: quindim with creamy coconut tapioca and passion fruit and coriander gel. As they say in Brazil, to eat while praying! Another possible choice, with a more Portuguese vibe, is the pastel de nata mille-feuille with Port wine ice cream. It pleased, but it does not excel the quindim!


Nos pratos principais também são várias as alternativas, incluindo um prato vegetariano. Os homens optaram pela feijoada à Brasileira e pela picanha de wagyu enquanto as senhoras não  hesitaram em escolher o bobó de camarão e bacalhau que estava soberbo. A feijoada saborosa, soube a pouco e a carne, tenrissíma, satisfez na perfeição.

Na hora da sobremesa não pensei duas vezes, tinha feito o trabalho de casa e a escolha estava preparada: o quindim com tapioca de coco cremosa e gel de maracujá e coentros. Como se diz no Brasil, de comer rezando! Outra escolha possível, com uma vibe mais portuguesa, é o mil folhas de pastel de nata com gelado de vinho do Porto. Agradou, mas não ultrapassa o quindim!


Photo via O Boteco




O BOTECO
Praça Luís de Camões, 37 (Chiado) - Lisboa

Monday to Sunday, 12:30 to 23:30


O Boteco Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato






Thursday 5 March 2020

Wine Chronicles | Alentejo Wine Route





Alentejo Wine Route, in the heart of Évora, presents a new space dedicated to wine tourism, in which, through a multimedia and interactive concept, it will provide its visitors with a journey through the history of wine in the region.

The ancestral tradition of Talha wine, the soils and grape varieties, the sustainability of the region and the various wine tourism projects that make up the Alentejo Wine Route, are themes present in this new 680 square meter space that includes two complementary areas: one exhibition area on the history of this Portuguese wine region, and a space for wine tasting and wine tourism promotion.




Rota dos Vinhos do Alentejo, no coração de Évora, apresenta novo espaço dedicado ao enoturismo, no qual, através de um conceito multimédia e interativo, irá proporcionar aos seus visitantes uma viagem pela história do vinho na região. 

A tradição ancestral do vinho de Talha, os solos e as castas, a sustentabilidade da região e os diversos projectos de enoturismo que integram a Rota dos Vinhos do Alentejo, são temas presentes neste novo  espaço de 680 metros quadrados que inclui duas áreas complementares: uma área de exposição sobre a história desta região vinícola portuguesa, e um espaço destinado a provas e promoção do enoturismo. 









This new and carefully curated space, capable of receiving, with comfort and quality, 50,000 visitors annually, is part of the strategy of the most important wine region in southern Portugal, which aims to make Alentejo a world reference in the area of ​​wine tourism.

The recognition of the potential and unique character of this wine region by the tourism industry is indisputable. Indeed, since 2014 the Alentejo has received 9 successive distinctions as a wine tourism destination, where the most recent, in November 2019, was from Condé Nast Traveler, the North American magazine of luxury travel and lifestyle, which considered the Alentejo as one of the Six Best Wine Regions to Visit in 2020.




Este novo e cuidado espaço, capaz de receber, com qualidade, 50.000 visitantes anualmente, faz parte da estratégia da principal região vinícola do sul de Portugal que tem como objectivo tornar o Alentejo uma referência mundial na área do enoturismo. 

O reconhecimento do potencial e carácter único desta região  de vinhos pela indústria do turismo é indiscutível. Com efeito, desde 2014 o Alentejo já recebeu 9 distinções sucessivas enquanto destino de enoturismo, onde a mais recente, em Novembro de 2019, foi da Condé Nast Traveler, revista norte-americana de viagens de luxo e lifestyle, que considerou o Alentejo como uma das seis “Best Wine Regions to Visit in 2020”.








In the area dedicated to wine tasting, visitors can find wines from the region's producers, as well as books related to Alentejo wines and wine tourism in the region. Six wines, representing 3 producers, are selected for tasting each week.

In addition to the wine tastings and purchases they can make, visitors also have access to interactive equipment that allows them to autonomously design a custom wine route, choosing the starting and ending point, as well as the activities to be carried out during the tour (wine tastings, cellars visits, meals, accommodation). The personal wine tourism route defined will be sent by email to the visitor, who will be able to open it directly on Google Maps, constituting an excellent aid to their trip.

The new space of the Alentejo Wine Route is located in the center of the historic area of ​​the city of Évora, on the route from Praça do Giraldo to the Cathedral of Évora and the Roman Temple.




Na área dedicada às provas, os visitantes podem encontrar vinhos dos produtores da região, assim como livros relacionados com os vinhos do Alentejo e com o Enoturismo da região. Todas as semanas estão a provas seis vinhos, representando 3 produtores. 

Para além das provas e das compras que podem realizar, os visitantes têm também acesso a um interessante equipamento interactivo que lhes permite, de forma autónoma, desenhar uma rota à medida, escolhendo o ponto de partida e de chegada, assim como as actividades a realizar durante o percurso (provas, visitas a adegas, refeições, alojamento). A rota enoturistica definida será enviada por email para o visitante, que a poderá abrir directamente no Google Maps, constituindo um excelente auxiliar à sua viagem.

O novo espaço da Rota dos Vinhos do Alentejo situa-se no centro da zona histórica da cidade de Évora, no trajecto da Praça do Giraldo para a Sé de Évora e o Templo Romano.








Rua 5 de Outubro, nº 88 - Apartado 2146
7000-854 Évora - Portugal
Telefone: (+351) 266 746 498 ou 266 746 609
Email: rota@vinhosdoalentejo.pt

Monday to Friday | Segunda a Sexta-feira - 11:00 às 19:00

Wine Tasting | Prova de Vinhos - 5 €






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