Mention Portuguese food to most people and they’ll think of sardines. Those looking to rent villas in Portugal will usually expect to taste the famous fish †barbecued and served with salad and boiled potatoes, as is traditional - but there is much more to Portuguese cuisine these days. Villa rentals are to be found near many of these gastronomic centres. The Portuguese have a proud history of good ingredients. For example, these great adventurers who conquered much of South America and the Far East were the first to bring back spices such as chilli, ginger and pepper to Europe. From the Far East they imported rice, tea and coffee and in what was then the New World Portuguese sailors discovered pineapples, potatoes and tomatoes. Villa rentals in Portugal usually have well equipped kitchens and so buying fresh fish and produce in the local markets and bringing it home to cook is a wonderful experience. Most of the food is so fresh and tasty that it only needs the simplest preparation. Portugal’s national dish is "bacalhau," - dried, salted cod. It’s thought that it developed during the 16th century, when Portuguese fishing boats first discovered Newfoundland. The sailors salted and sun-dried the fish they caught so that would it stay edible during the long journey home. It’s said that are 365 different ways of preparing bacalhau, one for each day of the year. Villas in Portugal, whichever part of the country they’re located in, will never be far from at least one restaurant serving this delicacy. Another favourite is "cozido portuguesa," a hearty stew of vegetables with pork while tripe, although not everyone’s favourite food, is a favourite among the Portuguese. Whatever your taste, one thing is certain - anyone looking for villa rentals in Portugal will eat well.
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