My brother hurled the paper bag to the floor with a thud.
“What the heck is that?” I asked, fearful.
My brother put his head in his hands and wailed: “I had such high hopes!”
I reached into the bag and pulled out: a bright orange, seven-inch long stalagmite of sugar, egg… and what felt a lot like lead. (Visual representation to the upper right of the lead photo.)
At the entity’s head, there were the clear bite marks of an admirable eating effort. Gazing at my sibling, however, one thing was clear: pastry had defeated man.
“I thought it would be all light and fluffy…” my brother moaned, rubbing his tummy.
A woman passing through the hostel dorm laughed. “Most of Portuguese pastry is egg plus sugar,” she said. “It ain’t light!”
It is worthwhile to note at this point that my brother and I are giants (six feet and six foot six), partially due to an unadulterated adoration of food of all sorts. And indeed, we have LOVED Portuguese food! But it is also important to note that cuisine here in Portugal seems to be meat and potato-obsessed… which is then rounded off with pastries, pastries, and more pastries. Abundant green veggies? We had to buy and cook them ourselves.
Now back to the stalagmite pastry drama.
“Try some,” said my brother, a somewhat evil smile playing on his lips.
Being hardcore, I took a test nibble. “SUGAR! SUGAR SUGAR SUUU-GAAAR!!!” the confection screamed into my veins. I tried a few more munches before tumbling into a faint on the floor.
“See what I mean?” panted my brother. The pastry cackled in victory as I nodded.
But be happy, dear readers. We are Olympic-level eaters, and we fought back! The next day, we went for a five-hour walk in the Alfama district of lovely Lisbon (highly recommended!), and took a calculated pastry break. At last, we figured out which treats are the most delicious to us amid the golden mounds gracing the windows and cases… and we ate them all, blissfully happy.
End score?
Orange Stalagmite Lead Pastry: 2
Me and My Brother: 200!
Loved Portugal! By the time we left- we were fished out though. We are vegetarians and all we ate was fish and potatoes. But oh what fun!!!
Ooo yes a lot of potatoes…
If I ever went there, I would have gain like ten pounds in a week.
If most of Portuguese pastry is egg plus sugar, then wouldn’t that mean most of their pastries are fattening. I guess most Portuguese people like sugary foods, with egg. Like Malaysia said it was a heart attack waiting to happen. That’s amazing in Portugal they make seven-inch long pastries.
I forgot to add in my last comment: What a heart attack waiting to happen.
Okay avoiding Portuguese pastries! I think the most interesting Portuguese dish I’ve ever heard of was Portuguese All Meat Stuffing. Yes, ALL MEAT no bread. Linguica is one of the ingredients. I told my mom we were going to make that next Thanksgiving.
The portugueses cakes and the pastry cames from conventual tradition from seventeen century. That means a lot of sugar and also eggs. I love them once a year. They are very sweet. About food in Portugal, we have a lots of fish (don’t forget the portugueses sardines), perhaps we are one of the countries where we can find more species and variety. We use herbs in our food specialy in the meat. I hope next time, you find a better place to eat. I could explain to you the best places to eat and drink.
When I read this, all I could think about was fried dough.
NDS Roms said…
that’s beautiful
April 11, 2010 5:49 PM
Dave said…
I never met a pastry I didn’t like – until that beast of a sugar-icicle…
April 12, 2010 3:35 AM