I returned to Garrafeira Bottle Shop on College St today, to pick up some cheese, coffee, a piece of coconut cake, some Portuguese chocolate, and custard tarts. Their custard tarts cost $2.75 a piece. A nice version according to my DCs. I liked the coconut cake, a lot. My first time to try Portuguese coconut cake.
I checked the menu at Taberna Nacional, also on College near Dovercourt, at 928 College St. There is a $31 Francesinha on their menu. I’ll order one later this fall.
Tried the Danforth location of Bom Dia. The pastel de nata was lovely - creamy, eggy, and a crisp, flakey pastry. The queijada (sorry, my wife got to it before the photo) was a bit thicker, but otherwise smooth and creamy, nicely accented with passionfruit seeds on top. We’ll have to go back with more of an appetite.
My wife tried Taberna LX with a colleague and liked it enough to return with me in tow. Jonathan Poon is the chef and does a pretty good job at fancified, fusion-y Portuguese. The bar manager is Isabo LeBlanc and the options include some great cocktails, an all-Portuguese wine list, various ports, and some interesting Portuguese liqueurs. It was less than half full on a Sunday night, so I hope it will be able to stick around.
We had two cocktails:
We then ordered two wines by the glass:
We started with the shrimp patty, basically a rissois, with sweet coldwater shrimp (sustainable) in a creamy sauce. The frying was nicely done, with crisp and not oily pastry.
The duck açorda was the first real standout. It featured moist roasted duck breast, confit leg, sourdough pieces soaked in a rich broth, onions, and some chili to give it some punch.
Francesinha was a superlative sandwich of steak, mortadella, chouriço, fried egg, some kind of red sauce, covered with melted cheese and topped with pickled hot peppers.
Chorizo and clams was notable for a tasty broth that was not oversalted (which I often find the case with this kind of dish). It came with a few bread slices, but we were encouraged to pair it with their Russet fries, which came with piri piri sauce on mayo. These were crispy (probably at least double-fried) and delicious. The piri piri sauce was particularly great with the fries.
Getting a little overfull, we could only order one dessert, the pao de ló (olive oil cake), which came with bay leaf ice cream. Just a little sweet and with flavours that don’t often appear in desserts, this one really worked.
We finished with a glass of Graham’s 20 year tawny port, redolent of plums and raisins. The bartender then gave us a little taste of Espinheira cherry liqueur, which was delightful.
Been twice and including a birthday event. It’s a solid spot. Agree on both those cocktails - solid. I’ll add the Sao Gorge and croquettes are excellent as well as the “fish from the garden”. Great staff too.
Mystery box?
No, I ordered everything.
I have been stopping by for a coffee and sandwich to go most Mondays.
Flan, pastries or mousse for the dining companions.
1 assorted sandwich with salami, turkey, cheese and arugula ($12), 1 chocolate mousse, 1 passionfruit mousse, 1 almond mousse of some sort, a cookie cake that tastes like Biscoff/ Cookie Butter ($5 each).
Also, an iced latte.
I don’t think Café Bélem does Too Good to Go. I stopped using Too Good To Go after around a dozen purchases.( I’m too fussy. I rather buy exactly what I want)
This is on my to try list.. glad to read your report!
