WWFB: Pastry Pride Edition
The scene: Every goddamn street corner in Lisbon.
If you’ve ever looked into visiting Lisbon, you’ve probably read about the city’s famous pastry, the pastel de nata (plural: pastéis de natas). If the travel blogs are to be believed, these things are god’s gift to breakfast. Allegedly, every man, woman, and child in Lisbon swears a vow of allegiance to them and forswears all other pastries forever and ever amen.
I was a touch skeptical. I mean, little custard pies? Okaaaay, I guess in theory that could be bees’ knees material but do we really need a pastel de nata shop on every corner?
I was wondering if it was one of those tourist traps masquerading under the auspices of civic pride, much like the good people of Philadelphia are alleged to love scrapple, whatever that is. I don’t know a single Philadelphian who actually eats it (OR DO I?!?! Fess up, Philadelphians!), unless they eat it in secret, which is creepy and kind of sad.
In addition to every man, woman, and child in Lisbon swearing by the pastry supremacy of the pastel de nata, each one of them has a VERY STRONG opinion about which bakery makes the best one. My advice, if you ever find yourself being grilled by a local about where you get your pastéis de natas: Point to the left and run to the right. Just keep running. This is not a hill you want to die on.
But anyway, getting back to the supposedly magical qualities of the pastel de nata: BELIEVE THE HYPE!
Seriously, people. That flaky crust? How do they get so many layers in such a tiny shell?!? And don’t even get me started on that creamy custard: Egg yolks and sugar have never been so well combined, so fluffy yet perfectly browned! And the fact that the corner bar sells them at 11:00 at night for €1.25 apiece in an uncanny anticipation of my next day’s early morning breakfast needs? Priceless.
VERDICT: Freaking fantastic, you guys. 11/10, will eat again tomorrow. And the next day.