Traditional Portuguese and Portuguese-influenced Goan Cooking Class in Almada

Meet Paula

Born to a Goan family who has lived in Goa, Mozambique and Portugal, Paula is a true reflection of the cultural diversity embedded in Portuguese cuisine. Paula’s love of food and cooking started from a young age, and food brought her family together early and often. Her mother, an artist in the kitchen, would constantly invite people into their homes (Paula remembers when she was at school she would come home on a Saturday to find her mother had invited the entire teaching staff over for a meal). Paula’s family cooked internationally – one night they might eat traditional Portuguese homecooking while the next night her mother would make Goan samosas from scratch, teaching Paula the proper technique to make the dough and fold the samosas correctly. When Paula’s mother passed away a few years ago, her mother’s friends began coming to Paula, saying how much they missed her mother’s cooking. It was this that started Paula on her second career, in food. She began by cooking the family recipes, Goan and Portuguese, that her mother’s friends loved so much. After taking a course in cake design, Paula also started baking and found another passion in creating art from cakes. She opened her own cake studio has been baking and doing catering for friends since then. Paula is a true artist with food, and she welcomes you into her home to share a Portuguese meal with international influence that will help you to truly understand Portuguese-Goan culture and local life.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 6 guests) Your experience will take place in Almada, just a short 7-minute ferry ride from downtown Lisbon. Paula will meet you at the ferry and take you on a lovely 10-minute walk through the center of town to her apartment, located just a few meters from the ferry. Start your meal with a welcome drink of some Portuguese wines that come from a 200-year old winery in the Alentejo region of the country’s south (If you are traveling to the south and are interested in visiting the vineyard and its award-winning underground winery let Paula know and she can provide recommendations!). Enjoy some appetizers which will highlight traditional Portuguese cuisine as well as Goan dishes influenced by the area’s Portuguese history. You might try pataniscas de bacalhau, a very traditional Portuguese cod fritter, along with Goan gram flour fritters, while Paula describes the dishes’ intertwined history. Then sit down to a family-style meal that you will enjoy with Paula. Your meal will include Portuguese and Portuguese-influenced Goan dishes. If you prefer a traditional Portuguese meal, or a full Goan-centered meal with dishes like Goan crab curry, please let Paula know when you make your booking. End your meal with a sweet dessert and coffee or tea.

Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) Join Paula in her home for a Lisbon cooking class where you will learn to make 2-3 Portuguese and Portuguese-Goan dishes. Learn to make two appetizers side-by-side such as pataniscas de bacalhau, traditional Portuguese cod fritters, and Goan bojas, gram flour fritters made with onion and cumin seeds. Then go on to make a main dish, where you can select between a Portuguese or Goan main dish, such as bacalhau a braz, a traditional Portuguese dish of cod with shredded potatoes and egg, or a Goan curry. After cooking sit down together at Paula’s dining table. End your meal with a sweet dessert and coffee or tea. Paula is excited to share her culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Lisbon. She can also accommodate vegetarian diet in her Goan cooking class in Lisbon.

Market visit (1 - 6 guests) Join Paula for a market tour of a traditional neighborhood market. Paula will meet you by the exit of the ferrry and then walk 15-20 minutes to the neighborhood’s main market. Paula has been visiting the market for her entire life, First going as a young girl with her mother to help carry groceries home. Many of the vendors still recognize Paula from when she was a girl! Paula will point out some typical Portuguese ingredients and you will collect some of the vegetables, meat and fish that you will use during your cooking experience. Stay at the market about 15-20 minutes before heading home to Paula’s apartment to begin your cooking lesson. Please note the market tour is available Tuesday through Saturday mornings.

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