It is the day for turkey, cranberries, and stuffing. But, I'm here to talk anything but turkey. I'm here to talk about my trip to Prado. Not "the Prado" in Madrid - Prado, a gorgeous restaurant in Lisbon's Baixa district that offered up art of another sort, the culinary sort.
It all started with an innocent order of bread...
Quite sinful to say the least. Dark, musky wheat bread from Gleba, a local bakery, served with a bowl of fresh goats butter sprinkled with smoked salt and sea lettuce, as well as a bowl of sweet, whipped Iberico pork fat, topped with toasted garlic and crushed bay leaf.
Who could imagine that this sort of decadence could be topped by a plate of humble mushrooms?
No need for a humblebrag here. Bathed in a smoked pepper sauce and graced with a handful of toasted barley, this dish was rich, bright, soft, and crunchy all at once.
So, why was I surprised that the Iberico pork tenderloin with shiitake mushrooms also had me moaning at first bite...
I used my spoon to slurp the juices that settled to the bottom of the dish. And, then another spoon arrived for dessert...
Believe it or not, this is a bowl of smoked milk ice cream. That's right. Smoked milk. It is drizzled with fig leaf oil. A few paper-thin slivers of pear adorned the bowl as well.
Tastebuds whirling. Mind blown.
I know I have said that I don't care for precious food, but this isn't precious cooking. The photos and descriptors might make you think it belongs in that category, but I say "no."
Prado is simply full-tilt. And, I will be visiting again, the next time I am in Lisbon. (There will be a next time!)