Happy Easter, part 1

Well, it's almost Easter and this year I started I little bit earlier. Like Christmas, Easter as typical things... like food (yes, as always). There are cakes and pastries which are more popular during these festivities. So, this year I will be showing everyone around here the best I can.

Thankfully I can count on all portuguese supermarkets and grocery shops to help me in this herculean task! eheh

As you all know I continue with my japanese lessons. Today's idea was to show my sensei (teacher) and the rest of the class the cake pão-de-ló (sponge cake). Besides being one of the pastry symbols for Easter, the sponge cake has a curious background for Japan and japanese.
There's one typical japanese cake named castera which comes from the sponge cake, introduced by the portuguese when they established missions in Japan, around 16th century.
Besides castera, there's also tempura (vegetables fried in oil), which were also influenced by the portuguese gastronomy.

By the way, the word castera comes from castela in portuguese (to beat the egg white) and the word tempura comes from the portuguese word têmpero.

So, 5 centuries later, a portuguese once again introduces the original and authentic pão-de-ló to japanese. My sensei was really delightful to hear the story of the this cake.

To make it more special, I took a fine bottle of Porto wine, which is a good choice to accompany almost any kind of dessert. Unfortunatelly only two persons dared to drink a small glass of Porto... after all, who wants to drink alcool at 11am on a Saturday? eheheh
Our teacher gave the good example: green tea only! Ocha wo nomimashita! :-)

Well, this Easter Sunday my tour de force continues. This time I've invited some guests for the typical portuguese Easter lunch, with a meat and fish courses, wine and more dessert! eheheh

Stay tuned for more gastronomical adventures! ;-)

Happy Saint Martin!

Is true that Saint Martin's Day is November 11th, but in Portugal we usually celebrate it on the following Sunday. How do we celebrate it? Typically with chestnuts and local light alcoholic beverages.

Chestnuts are usually eaten roasted, preferably outdoors on an open fire, with friends and family. Alternatively, if going out and cold are an obstacle, you can prepare them in the oven.

Regarding the wine, in Portugal St. Martin's day is also associated to the maturation of the year's wine (the first day when you can taste the new wine).
The popular beverages are água-pé (a watered-down wine) or the stronger jeropiga (a liquor).

At this time of the year the weather really doesn't invite you to go outdoors, but in Portugal usually there's a small period of good weather which we refer as Saint Martin's Summer (Verão de São Martinho).
But this weather "phenomenon" is related with the most famous Saint Martin's legend. By the time when he was a roman soldier (travelling supposedely from Italy to France) he met a beggar during a rain storm. So he cut this cloak to save the beggar from dying of the cold.... after a while the rain stopped and the sun started to shine.

Now is time for some chestnuts! Even if I'm in France, for me a tradition will always be a tradition! ;-)

Happy St. Martin! Bom São Martinho!