A taste of Portugal in Sydney

Portugal is famous for its fiery piri piri sauce, chouriço sausage and delicious custard tarts. And if you haven’t got time to travel there, you can taste these delicacies right here in Sydney.

Petersham is developing a reputation as Barrio Portuges (Little Portugal), with a range of shops and restaurants specialising in Portuguese cuisine and ingredients. To learn more about Portuguese cooking and to find out where to shop, I armed myself with a large shopping bag and signed up for a food tour, run by the Sydney Community College.

Where to sample Portuguese food in Petersham:

Silvas Portuguese Restaurant, 82 Canterbury Road, Petersham
This was our first stop of the afternoon, to give us an initial taste of Portuguese food. Pasteis de Bacalhau (codfish cakes) featured on the menu, along with some tasty prawn pastries, beef kebabs and the ever-popular piri piri chicken.

Charlie’s Delicatessen, 37 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham
When we walked in here I was immediately hit by the tangy aroma of the huge white chunks of salted cod, stored in boxes near the door. Some of the foods we tried here included quince marmalade with goat’s cheese, olives and lupins - salty pulses - while examining the shelves stocked with sardines, olive oils and piri piri sauce.

La Patisserie, 45 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham
When we arrived we were ushered straight to the back of the shop so Fernando – the owner of the bakery – could show us how to make custard tarts. After demonstrating the process, he handed us each a piece of the pastry dough and a tart-shaped tin and told us to have a go. My own effort certainly wasn’t good enough to end up in his shop, alongside the gila (a pastry filled with pumpkin), ricotta tarts, almond tarts and other delicious pastries you can buy... or sample on the tour. I was too full to try them all, but definitely will be going back soon to rectify this.

The Spanish Portuguese Butcher, shop 4, 89 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham
This time it was the aroma of chouriço sausages that greeted us as we entered. There was also goat, rabbit and a magnificent smoked ham- the owner, Joe, makes this as a specialty.

Petersham Liquor Mart, 41 New Canterbury Road, Petersham
Portugal is famous for its port, but this shop also stocks several delicious wines as well.

Georgiou’s Confectionary, 147 New Canterbury Road, Petersham
It’s not exactly Portuguese food, but this shop is worth a mention - it has the largest range of chocolates and lollies I have ever seen in my life. Everyone bought some, claiming that they were for friends and family, but I still wonder how many survived the trip home.

If you decide to explore Petersham, either with a group (for the samples) or on your own, boa viagem and bom apetite!

By Laura Boness

Image credit: Gordon King