The Macanese – A Legacy of Portugal in ChinaFrederic A. (Jim) SilvaEdited talk given at the 2004 Encontro in Macau.Whoever said “East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet” ” had obviously never met a Macanese, for in the Macanese there has been the perfect blending of East and West.What […]
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Terra de Bacalhau Cod Countryby Giovanni PereiraFirst published in the UMA News Bulletin under the pen-name “Caramba”The consumption of cod fish is deeply rooted in Portuguese gastronomic culture. This predilection goes back to the time of Os Descobrimentos Portugueses (Portuguese Discoveries in 15th Century) when fishermen ventured into the icy waters of the North Atlantic.
OS VERDINHOS by Giovanni PereiraFirst published in the UMA News Bulletin under the pen-name “Caramba” The fine wines of Portugal are unfortunately mostly unknown abroad, with a few exceptions like Port and the popular rosés like Mateus and Lancer. Yet this rugged handsome country produces some of the most unique and diverse varieties of world class
O VINHO DO PORTO by Giovanni Pereira First published in the UMA News Bulletin under the pen-name “Caramba” In 1997, the Wine Spectator, an important American publication, included two Ports amongst the Best Wines of the Year, namely the 1994 Vintage Ports of Taylor and of Fonseca. It is apt that an English House and
MOUNTAIN FIREWATER by Giovanni Pereira There is a spirit in the Algarve. It’s pure and crystal clear. No secret recipe, no additives and the Algarveans still know how to distill it in their own homes! It’s derived from the most characteristic shrub in the serra hilly regions of the Algarve – the arbutus or strawberry
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COMIDAS REGIONAIS DE PORTUGAL Regional Dishes of Portugal Giovanni PereiraFirst published in the UMA News Bulletin under the title Impressions of the Algarve Part II, with the pen-name “Caramba” Jean Anderson, one of the best food writers in America and a regular visitor to Portugal for over thirty years had this to say about the
Portugal’s FlagFrederic (Jim) Silva It is not all that surprising to find that a country as old as Portugal has had its flag much altered as circumstances changed. Today’s modern flag tells us a story of a past and a people. We can see something of Portugal’s origins and history, of early Kings and battles
FESTA DAS SARDINHASby Giovanni PereiraFirst published in the UMA News Bulletin under the pen-name “Caramba”Each year, in early August, a week-long celebration is held in the Algarvean coastal city of Portimão, which does its best to earn its nickname as the “Sardine Capital of the World”.The town itself goes back many years. It once had a
The Spy who Never came backPêro da Covilhãby Frederic (Jim) SilvaIn the true tales of high adventure the story of Marco Polo’s travels have been indelibly recorded in history. But few have ever heard of one Pêro da Covilhã.And yet Pêro da Covilhã’s travels and exploits can come a close second to those of Polo. Perhaps
Peter the CruelFrederic A. (Jim) SilvaIt must be flattering or else insulting to be a ruler of nations and men and then to have an added title bestowed for posterity by history.For instance, young King Alexander of Macedonia would probably be flattered by being labelled Alexander the Great. I am sure Suleiman the Magnificent, Peter the Great and Manuel the
