A few times a month there is a market in Albufeira, here in Portugal, and we managed to get to it today. It is mostly "knick-knacks" that are sold, but you can always make some bargains ...
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ShareWatches and delicacies
Did we find anything on the market here in Albufeira? Yes! Peter loves wristwatches in different colours (I can't even count how many he has anymore) and was happy when he found a big stand with cheap watches in different designs. Two (!) watches, a piece of cheese and a box of raspberries went back to the motorhome.
National Law Bacalhau
The Portuguese themselves like to buy their national dish Bacalhau. It is dried and salted cod (imported from Norway!), which is then soaked in water before being cooked. You'll see this dried fish in abundance in every supermarket and it's served everywhere in restaurants and homes.
Today I saw a recipe magazine that had a special issue dedicated solely to Bacalhau. We tried a small piece when Åsa ordered it in Lisbon and it tasted great, but it's still a bit hard to understand its overwhelming popularity.
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Ditte says:
Watches are fun and I have collected them. But I often get stuck with one...
As for bacahau, I'm happy to abstain...
But markets can be fun and you always find something. Almost always anyway. (Usually looking for fruit and vegetables).
06 January 2015 - 18:55
Åsa says:
Yes, I have even tried to cook bacalhau, and it wasn't a success, but I like to eat it in a restaurant, preferably à lagareiro, grilled with oil and garlic (i.e. after it has been salted, dried, shipped from Norway and then desalinated in three different waters for two or three days...) (:
06 January 2015 - 18:59
hagfish says:
Agree that you can both have and lose the popular bacalaun. My grandmother always bought dried fish, which she soaked in several waters. Lutfisk that is!
We wish you a pleasant journey and, above all, a pleasant motorhome year!
06 January 2015 - 20:03
Helena says:
What fun with a market! I love visiting markets (both small and large) when I'm travelling. Much more fun than big shopping malls.
06 January 2015 - 20:58
Maggan and Ingemar says:
We miss the markets here in Greece. We also miss the heat 🙁
Yes, you can buy any number of watches on the market. The one I bought last year still works. Glad to see that you are enjoying yourself. Portugal is a nice country to travel in although some roads can be poorly surfaced. Enjoy and have a good time.
06 January 2015 - 21:15
Snows says:
I have heard about this fish and seen it in other countries. Didn't seem to be a huge sensation but tastes are so different!
Stay safe on your journey!
06 January 2015 - 21:39
admin says:
Ditte, fruit and vegetables are what you need anyway! And of course it's nice to have a market.
Åsa, it's unbelievable how much work is behind it!!!
Inger, yes it reminds me of lutefisk, but the flavour and texture was different!
Helena, shopping malls can be a bit boring... But good sometimes!
😉
Maggan and Ingemar, aren't there markets there? I would have thought so...
06 January 2015 - 21:40
Matts Torebring says:
Markets are great fun when you have plenty of time. We usually look for them where we are. Hugs
06 January 2015 - 21:41
Bosse and Gerd says:
There are as many recipes for Bacalhau as there are days in a year, so to categorically say no thanks - is feeeeel !!!!
06 January 2015 - 22:17
Ulla says:
Hi, I live part of the year in the Duoro Valley and I love most varieties of bacalhau! Salt-dried, it is excellent to store so it is no wonder that it has been popular just as the dried one has been practical here.
A Portuguese neighbour and I usually cook together, especially different bacalhau recipes, both for dinner and snacks.
For convenience, I usually buy the frozen, pre-watered bacalhau, try it and cook it like boiled cod with egg sauce, delicious! Or make bacalhau com nata (bacalhau with cream) which is like a Jansson's temptation with bacalhau instead of anchovies.
Says Ulla in Grilo/Baião/Duoro
07 January 2015 - 0:32
admin says:
Matts, markets are nice!
Bosse and Gerd, oh, I didn't realise that we were categorically saying no thanks? By the way, I am only writing about our personal experiences...
Ulla, thank you so much for telling us more! Interesting with food and culture! We always find it fun to try the local and to learn more!
07 January 2015 - 0:51
Anki says:
Nice with markets... if they are genuine ones and not like Skänninge...
Bacalhau... or bacalao... we ate it when we were in Lofoten... good!
07 January 2015 - 8:38
Frode says:
Fun to follow you on your trip, and read about everything you experience along the way and see all the nice pictures that you post.
But if you were looking for Norwegian fish, I think you've travelled an unnecessary distance to find it! 😉
I have never tasted bacalao, but now I really want to try it too. It gives me a taste of sun and warmth - I could use it here in the winter darkness.
Have a good trip!
07 January 2015 - 10:16
admin says:
Anki, understand what you mean and agree! Although I do not know Skänninge ...
Frode, how nice to hear that you enjoy following our journey! Yes, haha, that's what surprised us, that the national dish is made from fish imported from Norway. By the way, Norway must be fantastically beautiful to travel in with a motorhome... but we don't get the heat there....
07 January 2015 - 10:25
FANTASYDINING-A blog about themed restaurants and travel says:
Mmm. you could imagine that cheese 😉.
07 January 2015 - 10:27
Ama de casa says:
We've bought quite a lot in the markets around here over the years. Nowadays it's very rare that we take a turn. Maybe it's too far to get there?
😉
07 January 2015 - 10:38
Mstraveltipsy says:
Oh I love markets. There are so many nice, great, nonsense, dill and dall you can look at there. I also have very good experience with food you can buy at markets in different places. Buy what the locals buy, I have also learnt 🙂.
07 January 2015 - 14:15
JoY says:
Markets are always fun to walk around, not always that something comes home, but usually a piece of cheese!
We now have snow, a couple of centimetres have fallen during the day.
Hugs Yvonné
07 January 2015 - 17:27
admin says:
FantasyDining, the cheeses here are quite mild, but still good. Slightly creamy texture on some.
Ama de casa, this market was 100 metres from the site so it wasn't too much of a hassle.
😉
Mstraveltipsy, that's probably the right way to think! But then we probably should have bought bacalhau... but it's better to go to a restaurant!
JoY, a piece of cheese is never wrong. Nice with snow!
🙂
07 January 2015 - 18:46
Ama de casa says:
We have a market just below the terrace, outside the gate. Every Friday. Maybe that's why we avoid it quite a lot...
😉
07 January 2015 - 19:41
Lana & Roger says:
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
You must absolutely try "Fish Cataplana" the best dish we have ever eaten in Portugal. I can only say that the plates were almost clinically clean when we had eaten up 🙂.
07 January 2015 - 23:27
Lana & Roger says:
Hey, hey, hey, hey,
You must absolutely try "Fish Cataplana", the absolute best dish we have eaten in Portugal. I can only say that the plates were almost clinically clean afterwards 🙂.
Have a nice trip, it is a pleasure to follow you.
07 January 2015 - 23:32
admin says:
Ama de casa, haha it's true, we are more used to having it so close...
😉
Lana & Roger, oh thank you so much for your tip! We picture googled the dish and it looked delicious! We will definitely try it if we get the chance! Funny that you follow our journey!!!
08 January 2015 - 0:15
Inga M says:
The fish there looks a bit like lutefisk
11 January 2015 - 23:11