Gastro-Wanderlust: Adventures in Foodie

Hey Flour Power Squad! Thought we'd drop into your inbox with some food-related wanderlust to celebrate our freshest episode, "Loaf-ly Day for an Adventure" - since airing, both of us have been off on some more travels, myself [Lotty] to Lisbon, Portugal; Hannah to Cologne, Germany! Both of us had a fantastic time, read on for some of our foodie highlights...

Lotty - Lisboa, Portugal

I treated my Aunty to a week in Lisbon in May this year - although it was her first time, this was my second visit to Lisbon, having previously visited during my Uni years I decided this time would be much more laid back rather than racing to all the tourist hotspots! My Aunty and I had such a relaxing week - although it was far windier than either of us had expected (we definitely should have packed thicker jumpers.)

Baking-wise, Lisbon is probably most famous for its pastéis de nata, dainty custard tarts with a crispy pastry exterior. These I discovered are best when fresh from the oven, dusted with either cinnamon or icing sugar, and coupled with either a strong coffee or a thick Portuguese hot chocolate (so thick it's like chocolate syrup...). The originals, known as pastéis de Belém, can only be made in the bakery next to Belém's absolutely gorgeous Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, as they were first made by the monks who lived there to use up egg yolks, which I learned were leftover from the monks using egg whites to starch their habits. Naturally we had to try several different pastelerias across the city, just to make sure they were all up to standard and we were impressed every time, but I was so happy we got to visit the founding place and squeezed in a visit to the Monastery next door as well.

I was also particularly fond of the Bolo de Arroz, or rice muffin - light and fluffy thanks to the use of rice flour (hence the name), Bolos de Arroz have a texture similar to lemon drizzle cake and are just as moreish. We tried these at the Confeitaria Nacional, Lisbon's oldest bakery, and they were delightful.

On the savoury side of things, I think my favourite discovery had to be the pastéis de Bacalhau, salt cod croquettes - deep fried and mouthwateringly good. If I can get over my fear of deep-frying things then I will definitely be trying to emulate these! Salt cod is a massive deal in Lisbon, given its history as a seafaring capital and fishing port, so it wasn't surprising to find these on practically every menu across the city.

I'd love to find some more eateries further off the beaten track next time I visit, discovering regional specialities is my favourite thing to do when I go travelling.

Lotty xx

Hannah - Köln, Germany

I went to Köln with my partner Ashley, in May this year. Köln was a beautiful city & had a great many foods that we grew to love! If you've ever been to Germany, you'll know you cannot possibly miss out on Beer & Pork. With that in mind, on our first day we went to a Brauhaus (brewhouse) tour to try Kölsch. Kölsch is a local beer, which must be brewed within the city limits of Köln, and is served in 200ml glasses, so that it always tastes its best! The culture around Kölsch was fascinating, in that it isn't a drink you have to continually order, when you're running low, your Köbes ( brewhouse waiter) will bring you a fresh one, and this continues until you pop a coaster on top of the glass!

Next up is pork, of which we had plenty! On night one we had Pork Knuckles with wedges overlooking the Rhine, the meat was tender & juicy, with crispy skin, all on the bone. The pork was lavish and something I'm sure I won't be forgetting anytime soon. Next up on the pork front was Schnitzel, and we had this on two separate occasions, very crispy coating followed by delicious pork centre. The pork, like the bier (beer) was to die for & definitely part of what I will be going back for!

Finally it was time for sweets & desserts, something the Germans adore. On a visit to Bonn, we found out this was the birthplace of Haribo, and as a result we had to get a few bags! This included the following :- Deutsche Flaggen (German flags), Wurst & Bierflaschen (Sausages & Beer bottles) , Erdbeerstifte (strawberry pencils). And last, but certainly not least is the Lindt Factory Tour in Köln, from trying chocolate straight off the machine, the gigantic chocolate fountain to Chilli Hot Cocoa & Waffles, the whole morning was a sweet surprise.

I loved the food we had in Köln and cannot wait for my next adventure for more treats to try! Hannah xx