Óscar Fernandes - Executive Chef of the Lisbon and Alentejo region
"... Pousadas are known for the diversity of their gastronomy, revealing the secrets of an ancient art, and recreating the best of the regional gastronomy, always accompanied by the most recent trends of international gastronomy. Each Pousada must portray the area or region where it is located, mainly in what concerns gastronomy, from "Rojões à Minhota" (Fried pork bits from Minho), to "Cataplana de Peixes" (A dish with several fishes from Algarve), and "Bacalhau Dourado" of Elvas (Golden Cod), all of the typical and regional dishes can be found in the restaurants of Pousadas de Portugal, thus protecting traditional recipes and products."
Jorge Sancho – Chef of Pousada de Estoi
"The 'Cataplana' is most certainly the most traditional dish in the Algarve. People say it has been cooked for thousands of years by fishermen and hunters that carried all the pre-prepared condiments with them and cooked their preys in these traditional cooking bowls. In our Pousada, we prepare cataplanas in several variants, like the fish and seafood cataplana "a la algarvia" or the pork loin and shrimp cataplana. As a base, we always use onions, peppers, tomato, garlic, coriander and laurel for ingredients, then, you may use your imagination to create another delicious recipe."
Álvaro Costa - Chef of Pousada do Porto
"The 'Tripas à moda do Porto', or Tripes a la Porto… a very substantial dish, based on white beans, and stuffed tripes, where the final touch is given by highly scented cumins and a bit of powdered red peppers. This dish comes from the era of Portuguese maritime discoveries... and so it was born, a dish that was vital for the survival of the city during French invasions... now, it is an international gastronomic flag, whose fame is spread everywhere by the 'Confraria das Tripas à Moda do Porto', or Fraternity of Tripes a la Porto, of which I am a member myself, and I am proud to have it in our menu, to please our most demanding customers."
Manuel Pedras - Chef of Pousada de Elvas
"The 'Bacalhau Dourado' (Golden Cod) is probably the most iconic dish in Pousadas de Portugal. The Pousada de Santa Luzia, the very first Pousada, opened in 1942 and began as a ”restaurant with rooms”, where the golden cod was a reference from the beginning for Portuguese and Spanish codfish lovers. This dish is famous not only for its making and quality, but also for being always a part of the 'covert', and not merely a menu dish. Many have tried to copy this recipe, but they say it's never quite the same thing..."