The Off Topic Topic

[Sheilbh]

So there's a Portuguese cafe near me that I used to go to quite a lot. It's nice enough place - the lady owns one in my neighbourhood and then one a little bit away in the Little Portugal bit of Stockwell. I haven't been in ages for one reason or another, but walked past it over the weekend.

They have some absolutely massive Chega posters in the window/on the walls. So I might give them a miss now

[Syt]

So there's a Portuguese cafe near me that I used to go to quite a lot. It's nice enough place - the lady owns one in my neighbourhood and then one a little bit away in the Little Portugal bit of Stockwell. I haven't been in ages for one reason or another, but walked past it over the weekend.

They have some absolutely massive Chega posters in the window/on the walls. So I might give them a miss now

Is it a Nata Lisboa café? We have one near where I work. We occasionally get pateis de nata for the office there.

[The Larch]

I was recently in Portugal for a work trip (delated since March 2020) and I swear I had a Nata every single day. 

[Sheilbh]

Not going to lie, every time I went there it would be for a coffee and a nata

But it's not a big chain, it's a local Portuguese lady with two cafes. It might even just be called Little Portugal now I think about it

[Syt]

I was recently in Portugal for a work trip (delated since March 2020) and I swear I had a Nata every single day. 

So did we when we were in Lisbon.

[The Larch]

Not going to lie, every time I went there it would be for a coffee and a nata

But it's not a big chain, it's a local Portuguese lady with two cafes. It might even just be called Little Portugal now I think about it

Do they do any other specialities? Francesinhas? Bifanas?

[The Larch]

I was recently in Portugal for a work trip (delated since March 2020) and I swear I had a Nata every single day. 

So did we when we were in Lisbon.

It is truly a risk to the waistline. 

[Sheilbh]

Do they do any other specialities? Francesinhas? Bifanas?

No - and I should maybe emphasise cafe less though that's how I use them. It's mostly a standard sort of expat shop - lots of Portuguese products which takes up most of the space.

At the front they have a little deli counter with smallish stuff - natas, bacalhau etc, serve wine and beer, coffee etc. But it is a place for a quick drink/snack. Maybe three or four little tables and the bar.

They're not in my area but just down the road in the Little Portugal area of Stockwell there are more food-y Portuguese cafes that are just cafes. They do the francesinhas etc. And I might start going to them more

[Sheilbh]

It is truly a risk to the waistline. 

Yeah I need to lose some weight, which is possibly why I'd not been to the cafe for a while. It seems like the sweet custard tarts are probably not great on that front

[The Larch]

Do they do any other specialities? Francesinhas? Bifanas?

No - and I should maybe emphasise cafe less though that's how I use them. It's mostly a standard sort of expat shop - lots of Portuguese products which takes up most of the space.

At the front they have a little deli counter with smallish stuff - natas, bacalhau etc, serve wine and beer, coffee etc. But it is a place for a quick drink/snack. Maybe three or four little tables and the bar.

They're not in my area but just down the road in the Little Portugal area of Stockwell there are more food-y Portuguese cafes that are just cafes. They do the francesinhas etc. And I might start going to them more

If you're a fan of canned fishes, Portuguese ones are truly great and the industry has produced lots of varieties beyond the usual "fill a can with tuna/sardines and olive oil and get done with it". Besides, Portuguese cans are sometimes really pretty to look at.

[Sheilbh]

Oh I am and I know

Canned fish is having a bit of a moment in London/UK at the minute (including new British producers - whcih I'm really happy about because it enrages me how little we eat fish given we're an island ). I'm very much behind it.

[The Larch]

Oh I am and I know

Canned fish is having a bit of a moment in London/UK at the minute (including new British producers - whcih I'm really happy about because it enrages me how little we eat fish given we're an island ). I'm very much behind it.

If you visit Portugal at any point, there are some really fancy specialty shops in the main airports and largest cities, sponsored or run directly by the Portuguese association of canneries, and they do run a restaurant in Lisbon that prepares all its dishes with fish cans as its gimmick.

Besides that, any food shop or supermarket has a pretty good range. I always stock up whenever I visit one. 

[Grey Fox]

The Canaries also don't eat a lot of fish.

[The Larch]

Canaries? 

[Josquius]

Oh I am and I know

Canned fish is having a bit of a moment in London/UK at the minute (including new British producers - whcih I'm really happy about because it enrages me how little we eat fish given we're an island ). I'm very much behind it.

Eh... Fish isn't exactly sustainable though. I don't think it matters much that we are an island, we should be cutting back.