Apparently I was doing something else (working?) while everyone was perfecting their sourdough skills during the pandemic. Late bloomer again. Well, I’m a couple loaves in, and I’ve got a recipe that looks like a winner. My goals here were (a) use a starter straight from the fridge, and (b) minimize the work and mess. This was almost exactly a 24-hour process for me, and I didn’t have to do much during the workday....
Three and a half years after having wild-type Covid, I’ve mostly regained my sense of smell, but it’s not quite right. Day to day it can be different. One of the first things I usually smell in the morning is coffee, as I fire up the Nespresso. But some days I don’t smell it. And when I do, I rarely get the nuance of different coffees. (I’ve given up on my dreams of being a sommelier, of course....
Gin Lovers Fado at Gin Lovers You might stumble into a tiny Fado concert, as we did, in the towering atrium of this “shopping mall” (no Kohl’s or Cinnabon inside; lots of locally-made goods). Housemade gin, creative cocktails, and elevated food—we loved the Pica Pau and Deconstructed Bacalhau. Zenith Zenith Packed but friendly, this brunch hideaway has sweet and savory pancakes, benedicts, shakshuka, and sangria! Manteigaria The pastel de nata custard tarts are a must-try in Lisbon....
Villa Craft Beer & Bread I ended up coming here two days in a row, and it wasn’t for lack of nearby options. The sardine roll, baked in a wood-fired oven, took me to my happy place. Great local beers on tap, and the fridge has hard-to-find canned beer from all over Portugal. Sintra National Palace Sintra National Palace If you go early to beat the crowds, you can spend plenty of time here and really get a feel for what life was like 500 years ago in Portugal....