Through Ancient Roads and Recipes:
A Taste of Roman Portugal
There is a woman so warm and welcoming in the heart of Portugal that everyone should meet. Like so many other Portuguese women, her name is Maria. Our grandmothers are Maria, our mothers are Maria, our aunts are Maria. For decades, we have been savoring the food and soaking up the stories of all of these Marias–and now we’ve been gifted with another special Maria in our lives. Chef Maria Caldeira de Sousa is a scholar of ancient recipes based on the Roman book of Apicius, and has been selected as gastronomic ambassador for Beira Baixa, the southern area of the Beira region.
Her home is in Idanha-a-Nova, where a thread of historic villages are rife with Roman vestiges: roads, bridges, aqueducts and more… Maria’s connection to the ancient history of these lands and her respect and preference for seasonal, locally grown and produced products (some from her farm) brings to the table exquisite dishes and wondrous moments.
Sit at Maria’s table to feed your body and soul with dishes that linger in your memory long after you’ve enjoyed them; visit the Roman roads in Idanha-a-Velha (part of the pilgrimage route of Via da Estrela); walk among the awe-spiring village of Monsanto (backdrop to HBO’s Game of Thrones), where granite homes were built into pre-historic boulders over the centuries; stand in the Centum Cellas tower in historic Belmonte (featured in National Geographic), and walk away with your special story to share.
