Had time today, so drove down to say ‘hi’ to the old gang. Side note; nothing/nobody has changed… kinda depressing. Anyway, was fun seeing everyone, visiting… then suddenly Florentino appears, and first thing he says to me, “go get some food”, lol! AND, I never went overboard taking advantage of his generosity. Is a perfect amount, thanks my friend!
… my Portuguese family! Just got back home… getting my hair looking all pretty… in for the evening… kicking off my 4 day holiday, when Antonio surprises me w/this… wishing me a Merry Christmas!! He says the cake is called King Cake (Bolo Rei, in Portuguese), and it’s still warm when he hands it to me! Yum-F-O!! I see from the sticker, this one comes courtesy Seara Bakery… what a lovely presentation! Funny; minutes from home when stopped at a traffic light, snuck a peek and was in disbelief the amount of cars, and the lack of room w/more cars trying to get in (and out) of Seara… welcome to a Portuguese Christmas Eve, lol! He tells me the port wine is to be enjoyed after dinner! I’m enjoying everything right now just staring at it… can’t stop thinking about all your kindness, and love! Thanks big guy… and, thanks Lina too! Much love!!
Plus; was a sunny, balmy 13º C on a global warming Toronto’s Xmas eve? Yep, today was a GOOD day!!
2 kinds; pork w/ lamb and cheese, and pork w/ beef – spicy too!
… the eye-talian in me!
and natas!
… the portugues in me!
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I’m the culinary king of adapting, if I do humbly say so myself!! Ok, maybe king of making shit up on the fly, but king nonetheless! So when my Portuguese lady friend Lina recently offered some of her home made chouriço (she smokes the shit herself in her backyard smoker too, y’all), I knew exactly how to put it to good use!! Make my SuperBowl chili as per usual, then slice&toss these badboys into the mix for that extra oomph!! And, with temps reaching minus 25 in these here parts, nothing beats a hot bowl of chili w/ grated Jack and a dollop of sour cream, along w/ plenty of crusty peasant bread (along w/ plenty of beer of course *wink wink*) on a cold Canadian wintry day!!
… Aloha!! New stuff from my Fortinos … pork burger with a Portuguese punch, condiment with a Korean kick, surrounded by sweet Hawaiian buns … sliced onion and Monterey Jack Cheese complete the package. The Verdict: best burgers EVER … both Tiff and I say so … then it must be so … I wanna hula, lol!! 😀
from the flyer (forgot to snap a pic earlier, sorry) …
PC Kimchi is the bomb on burgers …
next time tip: STEAM these …
piled high goodness …
mouthwatering close-up …
… sorry Tiff. Stopped at my fave Sunday haunt and got roped into a Portuguese food feast. Good bud Alex didn’t even bother to ask if I wanted a beer today, he just ordered it … and he even remembered my brand, Stella (best the bar offers). He did ask if I wanted to join him/them for lunch, his treat … I can’t tell you how many times I’ve douched out and declined … not today. A few pics y’all …
Alex and me (grunge photoshopped, lol)
vino (and bread)
cabbage, carrots, and potatoes
… pic #2
… and 3
meat: chorizo, chicken, pork … unsure of the rest?
… pic #2
my plate (1st of 3 helpings)
2 bottles (these are the bigboybottles btw) down, 1 to go
after dinner espresso and double shot of brandy (bowl is deep)
Final thoughts; those three bottles of wine were drunk ‘tween eight manly men dining (seven actually … stuck with my Stella). Every Sunday, anyone who wants to eat/drink is welcomed. The bill is calculated as a whole, then divided by the number of people … roughly calculated too (no nitpicking), making paying easier. Today it was $20/head … ALL IN!! My lunch included three beers (typically $6-7 at any bar), all the food I could eat, a double shot of brandy and espresso … to call it a good bargain would be the proverbial understatement. Thanks again Alex, you’re good people!!
Portuguese sausage – Linguiça … to be more precise – this ain’t no run o’ the mill Italian sausage (which are great btw) that I’m accustomed to. Once you bite into these, you’ll never forget its distinctiveness. I often see my good friend John with take-out styrofoam containers (so often – I bust his balls ’cause of it, lol), with soup (everyday they offer something different, not that I have to tell you – but just to make it perfectly clear – I AM, lol) from this place (I’ve never been, although I’ve been to many, many Portuguese bakeries) – Courense Bakery on Bloor … and ALWAYS raving about how great it is … and he swears by its health benefits (and he was right, felt stuffed all day afterwards). Today, because of circumstances – and because I was hungry as a motherfucking horse at the time, John and I ventured for a sit down soup brunch – got there at 10:45. John said this was the optimum time, come on noon’s other side and you’re taking a big risk … chances are you’ll be shit out of luck and a sorry sold out soup sob story is what you’ll be hearing … and then, you wouldn’t even be able to cry in it, LOL!! When we entered, the young woman working behind the counter asks me if I like kale and sausage? Uh, HELLS YEAH, lol!! And I know I’m not a soup guy, but after today’s experience, promise to try being MORE of a soup guy …
my bowl and bun (LOVE Portuguese breads) …
look at that creaminess – and all the sausage …
street view …
danistrulytheman 