Making a Portuguese Meal

This experience combines a visit to a Lisbon market with a hands-on culinary class led by a professional chef, all centered on traditional Portuguese dishes. It begins at the vibrant Mercado 31 de Janeiro, one of Lisbon’s remaining neighborhood markets where daily life still revolves around food. Walking the market with Rita, you pause at selected stalls to see what is freshest that day, speak with vendors, and learn how locals judge quality — by scent, color, texture, and season. From the market, you step into the surrounding streets for a stop at a local pastry shop, tasting a regional sweet before continuing on foot to a nearby kitchen. The ingredients you’ve just seen — and in some cases selected — shape a menu that includes a starter, main course, and dessert rooted in Portuguese culinary tradition. The experience concludes at the table, where you sit down together to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, paired with regional wines.

The market visit introduces how Portuguese cooking begins — with daily shopping and conversation. Mercado 31 de Janeiro remains a space where residents buy fish, herbs, bread, and produce from vendors they know. Here, you experience the energy and atmosphere of a truly neighborhood market. A pause at a nearby café allows you to sit, taste, and observe the rhythm of the street before cooking begins. The class that follows focuses on techniques used in Portuguese homes. Dishes may include bacalhau à brás — shredded cod folded with potatoes and egg — or arroz de marisco, a seafood rice layered slowly to build flavor. A professional chef guides you, offering practical instruction and insight, while Rita shares stories about the dishes and her own connection to them. The experience ends around the table in a convivial setting, sharing the food prepared together — giving you not just recipes, but a clearer understanding of how Portuguese meals take shape in everyday life.

Rita is a Lisbon-based guide and enthusiastic home cook who approaches Portuguese food culture through daily habits and traditional recipes. With a warm, approachable style, she guides you through the market and shares the practices that shape home cooking in Portugal. The experience also includes hands-on instruction and interaction with a professional local chef, combining Rita’s cultural insight with culinary expertise.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera or smartphone to capture the market and your creations. After booking, please message Rita via Fernwayer Chat to inform her about any dietary restrictions, so the menu can be tailored accordingly.