Portuguese cuisine is versatile, rich and tasty. It is based on a Mediterranean healthy diet, however with a touch of spice. Sometimes, especially in the north, traditional portuguese food can be more elaborated and somewhat heavy.
Portuguese usually have three main meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, often with a little snack in between. Breakfast and snacks commonly consist of milk or yogurt, coffee, tea or juice, and cereals, bread or toasts, sometimes accompanied by fruit. Lunch (usually from 12:00H to 14:00H) and dinner (usually between 20:00H and 22:00H) are usually composed of three courses, which include soup, the main dish and dessert. “Caldo verde”, made of smashed potatoes, thinly chopped kale and spicy sausage slices, is one of the most frequently found soups. The most popular and traditional dishes include “bacalhau” (codfish) – we have 1001 ways of cooking codfish – and olive oil but a wide variety of fishes and many kinds of meet, along with a good range of vegetables and spices are used to prepare delicious other dishes. The meal usually ends with fresh fruit or sweet desserts. Typical pastries contain a high quantity of eggs and sugar, sometimes with almonds, cinnamon and other full-flavored ingredients.
Almost the entire Portuguese territory produces excellent wines, which are commonly drunk at the main meals. National bears are, as well, of high quality and very popular among the youngest. We usually drink black coffee, of the expresso type. If you wish to drink coffee with milk you will have to ask for a “pingo”.
Both Academic Campuses have bars and canteens where students can have lunch or dinner for lower prices. The dishes of the day offer three options: meat, fish or diet. A complete meal with bread, soup, main dish and drink costs 4 EUR. For an additional 0.50 EUR you can include dessert. For snacks you can use the bars, which run throughout the day, and the vending machines located in each of the buildings.
In the vicinity of the campuses there are several restaurants and cafes where you can have light meals, such as sandwiches and salads, and also traditional dishes.