In My Portugal, George Mendes—chef and owner of Michelin-starred Aldea—and food writer Genevieve Ko introduce the world of Portuguese cuisine, offering 125 mouthwatering recipes that showcase the wide range of dishes that come from this coastal country.
The collection balances George Mendes’s popular restaurant recipes, such as his signature Duck Rice and Garlic Seared Shrimp, with his takes on classic Portuguese dishes, such as Salt, Cod, Potato, and Egg Casserole; Mozambique Shrimp and Okra with Piri Piri; Eggs Baked with Peas, Linguiça, and Bacon; Butter Cookies; and more. His stories illustrate the wealth of culinary resources in Portugal—fresh seafood, savory meats, and crisp vegetables.
With delicious recipes and stunning photographs of the country by Romulo Yanes, My Portugal takes the reader on an unforgettable journey.
“George is a creative genius whose culinary talent shines through each and every one of his dishes. His passion and love for Portuguese cuisine is inspiring and evident in all that he does! His recipes are simply delicious and will leave readers with a strong appreciation for Portugal and its cuisine!” —Eric Ripert, chef of Le Bernardin in New York City
Praise
“One of my favorite chefs has at last written a delicious tome that evokes the delicate balance between fantasy travel to the western Mediterranean and local farming in the USA. The poetic recipes and the mellifluous prose inspire me to shop, to sing fados, and to celebrate and cook these alternately exotic and recognizable simple and evocative dishes for my family. This book makes me hungry for a visit to both Aldea in NYC and the Algarve [in Portugal] and will immediately join my kitchen library on the ‘use now and forever’ shelf.”Mario Batali, chef/entrepreneur
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“I have long admired George’s thoughtful, evocative cooking at Aldea. The stories and recipes in My Portugal show the passion, warmth, and generosity of spirit that make his food so delicious.”Daniel Patterson, chef of Coi Restaurant in San Francisco
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“George is a creative genius whose culinary talent shines through each and every one of his dishes. His passion and love for Portuguese cuisine is inspiring and evident in all that he does! His recipes are simply delicious and will leave readers with a strong appreciation for Portugal and its cuisine!”Eric Ripert, chef of Le Bernardin in New York City
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“George is an amazing chef, and we share the common approach of bringing our own personal food heritage to New York City. His cuisine is filled with the intensely satisfying flavors of a casual Portuguese feast—updated with a beautifully modern presentation and technique du jour. I can see you trying these recipes at home while sipping a nice chilled glass of vinho verde!”Daniel Boulud, chef/owner, The Dinex Group
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“This book is a perfect example of an amazing chef cooking the cuisine that flows through his veins. George is cooking the food that is embedded in his DNA and it just so happens to be gorgeous and delicious!”Sean Brock, chef of Husk Restaurants in Charleston and Nashville
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“In this book, George Mendes takes us with him to Portugal: He travels the small Iberian country to visit family, to investigate the origins of favorite dishes, and to understand the village where his parents lived before he was born.”Food & Wine
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