In Lisbon, cream pastels encourage near-religious devotion. And with good purpose–these delicate tarts, manufactured from flaky layers of puff pastry and crammed with a luscious cream of eggs and milk, supply a glimpse of heaven on earth.
Some Lisboetas are dedicated to a neighborhood pastry store that proudly shows the phrases Own manufacture on its façade, signaling that its pastries are made in-house. But the town’s most revered pastry sanctuary is the Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, which has been drawing pilgrims because it first opened its doorways in 1834.
Manteigaria is a more moderen cult whose crisp, lemon-kissed tarts have earned a loyal following. Its authentic Chiado location has turn into a well-liked pastry shrine.
There can be Aloma Pastrya bakery in Campo d’Ourique, which rose to fame after successful nationwide competitions in 2012 and 2013.
Just after we thought we had tasted all the town’s holy pastries, we stumbled upon a brand new revelation, hidden in plain sight on the not too long ago renovated Hotel do Bairro Alto. Its pastels are extraordinary. The custard, radiant yellow and delicately scented, has simply the fitting contact of sweetness. The crust is golden, crisp, and exquisitely flaky with seven layers that echo Lisbon’s seven hills.
When we requested the servers in regards to the recipe’s components, they nodded politely and walked away. But on the ultimate morning, a waitress slipped us a handwritten word with the components. The secret? The filling is made not with cream, however with milk and cornstarch, lending it an ethereal lightness. The crust’s elegant texture is achieved by means of a mix of butter and pork lard.
So right here is an insider’s tip: if you end up close to Chiado, step into the Hotel do Bairro Alto and take the elevator to the fifth ground. Settle into the serene terrace overlooking the Tagus River and order some pasteis of cream. As you sit there, savoring these candy devotions, you’re prone to end up at peace.
Bairro Alto Hotel, Luís de Camões Praça 2, Lisbon, tel. 213 408 288, Email: reservations@bairroaltohotel.com. Click here for the resort’s web site.
