I think love, especially that one you feel for a certain PLACE, goes through one`s stomach and soul.

You can`t get to know a new world, you can`t get to understand it, you will just collect memories and you won`t fall in love with it if you don`t taste its flavors and let yourself captivated by them.

Well, when it comes to Trancoso, I admit I am totally in love with its charms, including the gastronomic ones and the recollection of its taste still lasts in my mind, now, that I`m back home, I`m still thinking of the marvelous…Moqueca. A kind of Bahian stew, with fish and all the good, local dainty dishes getting together: seafood, coconut milk, tomatoes, garlic, onion, fresh coriander and palm oil. All of them are dissolved and balanced by the acidity of some good drops of lime.

Fancy cooking to the rhythm of bossa music?

Fish marinade:

• 1 kg fish (mahi mahi, for example) and shrimps
• 1 lime
• garlic and chopped ginger
• 1 tablespoon melted palm oil

All are mixed with one`s whole heart, to the rhythm of music and left in the marinadefor about 20 minutes;after thatit is well strained.

“The Stew”

• 2 spoonfuls of palm oil
• garlic and red pepper flakes (to your heart`s desire)
• 1 onion
• 1 finely chopped green pepper
• 1 cup tomatoes
• 1 cup fish broth
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 limea quarter of a cup coriander and fresh basil.

All vegetables are gently simmered in a saucepan and then seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper, afterwards the fish broth and coconut milk are added, they are brought  to a boil and cooked for about 10 minutes, they are sprinkled with lime, coriander and basil…and that`s it. Ah, it is a real marvel if served warm, accompanied by rice.

A gozar!