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There is
a broad variety of supermarket chains in Portugal,
though maybe only one or two names maybe familiar to you
within Britain. Although you may not recognise most of
major supermarket chains the quality and range of the
products you will not be able to miss.
On the
whole products within a Portuguese supermarket are much
the same as one you would find in Britain. However there
are subtle differences. While you will still find
sections of the stores devoted to the home, pets,
personal grooming and household cleaning, the fish and
meat departments could have you reeling in either wonder
or revulsion.
Offal is
an ingredient which is readily mentioned in most
historical recipe books in the UK, however it is not
been readily available since the 1990s due to the
outbreak of CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). In Portugal
though the heart, lungs, feet and heads of most animals
are not only present within the refrigerated cabinets
but highly sought after items.
You will
also find the likes of rabbit and wild boar routine
items on sale along with squid, octopus and a huge array
of shellfish within the delicatessen aisles. Tanks
filled with live crabs, lobsters and eels are also
common place, all displayed live.
These
are not the only differences and if you are not a the
goddess of your kitchen or Gordon Ramsey, and rely
on more pre-packaged items for your daily diet, it would
be an advantage to stock up on tinned beans prior to
your arrival in Portugal. Or take a term at cookery
school.
Though
ready meals are available in Portugal, the choice is
somewhat limited and at present does not cater for the
wider palette. The range is slowly expanding beyond
'Quiche Lorraine' and 'Lasagne' but to ensure you
maintain a healthy balanced dieted learning to execute a
few simple meals would be advantageous, not only to your
health but to your wallet. Portugal, though refreshing
is still a little behind the times and these kind of
meals are priced as luxury items.
If you
are worried about finding supermarkets in Portugal, you
shouldn't be concerned. Thanks to a change in planning
laws during the early 1990s, most supermarkets and
hypermarkets are confined to ' 'Zona Industrials' on the
edge of towns, which are clearly sign posted.
By
ensuring new super and hypermarkets can only now only be
situated within commercial zones on the outskirts of
towns and cities, the government, has
managed to preserve the traditional look and feel of
many historic towns as well as assisting local
businesses such as bakers, grocers, fish mongers and
butchers successfully continue trading successfully for
generations to come. |
