Few pastries have won over as many hearts (and tastebuds) as Portuguese custard tarts. Visitors line up outside popular bakeries for them. Locals have strong opinions about which places make the best. The treats in question are Portuguese custard tarts, or pastéis de nata. What came about as a result of some 18th-century monks doing […]
pastries
6 Gluten-Free Bakeries in Paris That Are Going to Change Your Life
This blog post was originally posted on August 26, 2019 and was updated on September 23, 2020. In recent years, Parisian bakeries have truly mastered the art of gluten-free baking. That means that even if you’re gluten-intolerant, you can still have all the delicious French bread, pastries and cakes to satisfy your sweet tooth! Head […]
8 Best Places for Afternoon Tea in Lisbon
Did you know that tea plays a starring role in Portuguese history? Enjoy this traditional drink at the top spots for afternoon tea in Lisbon! When you think of tea, what country comes to mind? If it’s England, we don’t blame you. Not many people know that Great Britain actually owes its tea obsession to […]
Cozy Up at These 6 Spots for Afternoon Tea in Barcelona
While not the first beverage that comes to mind when you think of this beachside city, tea rooms in Barcelona are more popular than ever. Furthermore, with blocks and boulevards lined with thousands of restaurants and bars, it can be a daunting task to choose! Take our advice and check out some of these can’t-miss […]
These 5 Bakeries Are the Only Ones You Need to Visit in East London
Statistically, it rains 104 days in a year in London. In the winter time it gets freezing; in the autumn you get plenty of foggy, wet days. Let’s just say that you can’t really plan your activities in London around the weather conditions. However, what is great about a not-promising weather forecast is that it’s […]
A Paris Chef Shares How to Find the Best Pastries in Town (& Avoid Tourist Traps)
After an afternoon of sightseeing around the butte Montmartre, a nibble or two of French pastry is well-deserved. Rather than settling into an anonymous café on the rue des Abbesses, head west until the street narrows and forks. Tucked away just off the main drag, La Bossue awaits. Known for its generous brunch, cozy vintage atmosphere, […]
5 Fabulous Bakeries in Lisbon for the Best Bread You’ll Ever Eat
Bread is such a staple in our diet here in Portugal that a table feels almost naked without a basket of carcaças or a few slices of a homemade loaf. For a while, bread was a mass-produced commodity sold by cafes and supermarkets in addition to neighborhood shops. Today, however, there are more artisanal bakeries […]
3 Gluten-Free Croissants in Paris So Good You Won’t Believe It
You don’t need gluten in your diet to enjoy some of the best baked goods Paris has to offer. Parisian bakeries excel in gluten-free baking. You’ll have no trouble getting hold of gluten-free versions of any French pastry you can dream of, except for one: the croissant. Making this quintessential French viennoiserie without gluten is […]
The 7 Best Places for Coffee in Paris + Essential Coffee Vocab
In Paris, cafe culture runs deep. Coffee culture, well—as others have reported, it’s still developing. For many years, the only available coffee options in Paris were very average, at best. This is for a number of reasons, among them strict regulations for opening new cafes, France’s history of colonialism, and general lack of innovation in […]
All About Macarons: History + Where to Eat Them in Paris
Sure, you can always have a flaky croissant, or perhaps a few buttery madeleines to start your day. But when it comes to the perfect French treat—at any time of the day—we have to go with the heavenly macarons. That delicate crunch, followed by a lusciously chewy center and a creamy finish? Perfection. Ethereally light […]
