A most wonderful meal in Arcade: Restaurante Veiramar at Arcade

Restaurante Veiramar at Arcade

 We decided to take off the pilgrim hat for lunch while we were in Arcade. After all the walking we had been doing, we allowed ourselves a treat since I found in my research that there was a Michelin-guide restaurant in Arcade. 

And since they were open earlier than most lunch places, we considered it a sign to go (wink wink!). 

We arrived a little after 11am and were seated at a table by the window, with the nice view of Rio Verdugo, by Matilde beach. We went straight for the mains as we really did not have the time to have a long lunch. We got Arroz con Mariscos (seafood rice), which was good for two. 

Dining with a view, Restaurante Veiramar at Arcade

The Arroz came in a big clay pot with a generous servings of mussels,shrimp, scallops and clam. The seasoning was balanced, not too salty. Hubby actually prefers this to paella as the dish is more saucy, more stew-like. This delicious dish warmed our bellies and delighted our taste buds. I would definitely come back to try the other seafood dishes (especially those coming from the live tank by the entrance), if we ever find ourselves back in the area.

Arroz con Mariscos, Restaurante Veiramar at Arcade

Located before crossing the Medieval bridge of Pontesampaio, Veiramar does not take you far off the path and actually allows for a different view of the bridge and the river when you go to rejoin the route. It was a beautiful (and delicious!) side-trip in Arcade. Well worth the extra time we took for lunch. 

Porto fine dining: Real by Casa da Calçada

Real by Casa da Calçada

Being used to early dinners at home, we were again one of the first few diners, with dinner reservations at the first seating at another Michelin-guide restaurant, Real by Casa da Calçada.

For starters, we chose their Starter of the Day, not in the menu – ham and cheese croquettes. They were nicely crisp on the outside and smooth and pillowy as we cut into the croquette with a fork. The croquettes were so delicious, we were excited with what was to come! It was so hard to make sure not to get too full before the mains arrived but along with the starter, we had a warm bread basket (sourdough wheat bread and corn bread) with Marinhas butter topped with truffle paste that was too good to resist. 

Bread basket with truffle butter at Real by Casa da Calçada

Ham and cheese croquettes at Real by Casa da Calçada

But, of course, we had space for the mains! The dishes came in nice, copper pans, suggesting each dish was cooked individually. Hubby chose another rice dish, Arroz de marisco com corvina –Seafood rice with grilled croaker and scallop tartare. It was hearty and very flavourful. The scallop tartare provided a unique texture, elevating the homey dish.

Arroz de marisco com corvina at Real by Casa da Calçada

I chose the Black pork cheek with sweet potatoes, roasted chestnuts and caramelized onions. The pork cheek was so tender and made more moist with the sauce. The pureed sweet potatoes and soft, roasted chestnuts were topped with crisp caramelized onions. It definitely hit the spot. I really enjoyed this dish. 

Black Pork Cheek at Real by Casa da Calçada

We ended our dinner with a couple of mini pastéis de nata, on the house. They were warm (just the way I like them!), the tart was crisp, and they were just as yummy as the ones we had been having daily on the trip! It was a perfect way to end our perfect dinner! 

Winner Winner, Chicken & Waffles!

 

Chicken & Waffles @Inspire

Hubby and I enjoy Chicken & Waffles whether it is for brunch, lunch or dinner. A perfect combo of sweet and savoury, Chicken & Waffles will hit the spot for us, every time. As we find ourselves becoming empty-nesters more often, we have been checking out different brunch places. And while Eggs Benny, in various iterations, catches our attention, we almost always gravitate toward Chicken & Waffles. Here are three versions, ending with my favourite so far!

Evviva – nothing really to call home about. They used chicken tenders, which, although easier to eat, lacks the flavour and depth of bone-in chicken. They served this with BBQ sauce, which was nothing special. The waffles were also on the ordinary side. I could have thrown this together myself at home. There are better things to order here.

Chicken & Waffles @Evviva

Inspire – their version had been our favourite for the longest time. The presentation is big and impressive and the flavours are bold! The fried chicken, while boneless, is crispy and juicy. It went perfectly with slices of chili and blueberry sauce. The syrup, waffle and mac sauce balance the dish out. We trek to the heart of Markham just for this dish!

Chicken & Waffles @Inspire

And our latest discovery…and this still makes me hungry as I think about it…

Glass Kitchen—Chef Keith Pears has brought it home with their version of Chicken & Waffles! The double-fried chicken was so crispy, like Korean Fried Chicken. The deboned chicken was marinated with delightful spices, coated with honey butter and garnished with a scallion salad. Then, it was layered on top of black sesame flavoured egg waffles, which are always a delight to eat—even as is. The chili-maple syrup was absolutely delicious and it took some effort not to pour everything over the dish (I was afraid it might get soggy). This is hands-down my new favourite version of Chicken & Waffles.

Chicken & Waffles @Glass Kitchen

I cannot wait to try more brunch places, to see if anything can top our new fave!