The Portuguese Diva

You guessed it, that would be me. Not that the Diva part wasn’t already there. It has just now been upgraded by 5 notches. Oh yes, those poor unsuspecting souls around me will now really have their hands full ☺

Being Portuguese has had it’s highlights but also downright frustrating moments. I would say up until the last few years, the frustrating moments have topped the highlights. However it is funny how things you take for granted have a way to come back and bite you in the ass. It was after my moving to Argentina that I really discovered my cultural roots and finally (yes I can see my grandmother rolling her eyes at me now) integrated them into who I am.

As a child I wanted nothing to do with anything Portuguese. It was beyond a hindrance in my life. I grew up in a very traditional Portuguese household with strict rules and traditions, therefore I was not allowed to do many things that most of my friends were allowed to do. I wanted to be like the others but I couldn’t quite make that fit. As a child trying to figure out who they are, being raised in two very distinct cultures (okay let’s be honest, cultures completely alien from one another) can create somewhat of an identity crisis. On top of having different social values, we ate differently, we spoke differently, we had different traditions, and the list goes on. So I grew up shunning a good part of my culture in the attempt to fit into the social culture around me. But then I moved to Argentina.

One of the results of taking off to live this charmed life that I have always been after is the re-connection with myself. And the discovery of aspects of myself that I didn’t even know existed. And so it was with the discovery of the Portuguese Diva.

One of the reasons that I fit in so well in the culture here is because it is exactly the same culture that I was brought up in. This time things were reversed though. The norm was that Portuguese culture that I had tried so hard to veer away from, and the “non-normal” culture, for lack of a better word, was the one I had tried so hard to fit myself into. Most expats when arriving here undergo a period of culture shock (hell some never get out of it) whereas I underwent nothing. I actually found myself defending the culture when surrounded by those who just didn’t understand it or complained about it. And so began my re-introduction into the rich and beautiful roots I had grown up in.

And then an interesting thing happened. I began cooking. First of all the cooking in and of itself carried me down a path of self discovery that there is now no turning back from. However, it is the Portuguese cooking that finally “brought me home”. There is something magical about food that creates special aha moments in your life and I have to say that it has definitely given me more than my share. And which food was it that changed my life? Fish of course. ☺ Fish is a major staple of Portuguese cuisine, and my parents come from the Acores islands, so it is pretty much in my blood.

I happened across some sea mackerel as I was roaming around the central market one day and after leaping around the isle in glee (much to the dismay of the fishmongers) I bought myself 2 and proudly carried them back home. For those of you who are not familiar with sea mackerel, or Cavalhas in Portuguese (or Caballas in Spanish) they are sort of like very large sardines. The flavour is fairly similar. Because it is an oily fish it is chock full of flavour, so what we often do is simply grill it. Add a bit of sea salt, a few fresh onion rings and some parsley and you have a dish fit for Neptune himself. Absolutely spectacular. So I cooked this meal and everyone was smitten. (Not with me, with the fish…okay maybe a little with me… ☺ ) Such a simple dish, yet so full of flavour. And this is the really the essence of Portuguese cooking. Food that is simple, unpretentious but full of flavour. Just like it’s people ☺

After this life changing gastronomic experience I began devouring books, internet articles and sites on everything that was Portuguese food. I began reading on the different regions, the customs, the people, the ingredients, you name it. I watched movies, programs, anything and everything that had Portugal and Portuguese food in it. And little by little, like the size of the Grinch’s heart when he discovered Christmas, my Portuguese pride grew and blossomed. I realized that this was a fundamental part of who I am, I was raised Portuguese, and although yes, I functioned in a Canadian culture, my essence and foundation, my blood is 100% Portuguese. I am a unique mix I would say, but the latin part is what prevails overall. ☺

So in celebration of this new found reconnection with myself, I will be writing parts on the blog dealing with Portuguese cuisine and the country itself: The Portugese Diva Chronicles, and share with everyone the beauty, culture and experiences of Portugal.

(Note: photos above are of the island of Sao Miguel, in the Azores where my parents are from)