Carvoeiro's national cuisine is typical of the coastal regions of the country - the Portuguese love fresh fish and seafood dishes - it's a stronghold of their traditional cuisine. In Carvoeiro's restaurants, tourists are advised to check before ordering whether a dish is sold by weight rather than by the portion. Therefore, when ordering large portions of food by weight, be prepared to be charged accordingly.
The Portuguese always start their day with soups. A very popular soup is the thick vegetable soup Caldo verde, made from cabbage and potatoes. The soup is usually flavored with olive oil and a slice of spicy chouriço sausage.
"Stone" soup Sopa da pedra is another traditional first course with a fascinating creation story. It was invented by a monk who originally only had a piece of prime rib. He went through the homes of peasants, in each of which he was given one ingredient. In this way, he managed to combine many completely different foods and get a very nutritious dish.
Soup Sopa de cação in Carvoeiro is made with fish and bread. Bread was used as the main ingredient, to which flavored herbs and fish were added.
Melão com presunto is a refreshing dish made from an unusual combination of products - melon and smoked ham. It is very popular during the sweltering summer months.
Steaks in Carvoeiro restaurants may be cooked in a pan (Frigideira) in a wine sauce. Beefsteak Bitoque with a glazed egg on top is a dish that is very popular with the Portuguese. It is served with a special sauce.
Café Carvoeiro is worth trying cataplana, a fish and/or seafood dish made with fragrant herbs, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, and wine. Served with fresh bread, the flavor of cataplana is delicious.
Besides this, while staying in Portugal, every tourist must try the barbecued sardines served with potatoes.
The best restaurants in Carvoeiro offer on their menus:
- Feijoada - pork stew with various legumes;
- Caldeirada de cabrito - lamb stewed with onions, tomatoes, and potatoes;
- Cozido à portuguesa - a stew of cooked pork, beef, vegetables, and various types of sausages;
- Espetada mista kebab is made of different types of meat - beef, pork, and lamb;
- Frango Piri Piri chicken is cooked on a spit with chili peppers;
- Arroz de Marisco is a local version of paella, a dish of shellfish, shrimp, and fish cooked with rice, onions, tomatoes, and peppers.
Desserts (sobremesas) in the resort town will delight the taste buds of sweet-toothed travelers. Desserts are usually based on almonds and all sorts of egg custard variations. We also recommend trying light biscuits, oddly shaped candies, or fig or cheese pies.
We also recommend trying the famous homemade strong alcoholic drink, medronho, which has made many tourists "cry". You can watch the process of making the drink at home here.
Designations of dishes on the menu at Cafe Carvoeiro:
- Assado - fried
- Cozido - boiled
- Estufado - stewed
- Grelhado - heavily fried
- Na brasa - cooked over charcoal
- No forno - cooked in the oven
- Bem passado - well done
- Mal passado - undercooked (analogous to "well done")
- Mal passado - undercooked (analogous to "rare")
