Photo credit: IN Portuguese Food, Seafood Cream Soup
Our quaint little Taipa Village is full of gems for those seeking a foodie experience to delight the senses! You’ll find several spots claiming to serve Portuguese food in Macau, but unfortunately, not all of them can deliver authentic dishes as you would have in Portugal. If you’re looking for an authentic dining experience, IN Portuguese Food led by Chef Herlander Fernandes and his team, beautifully located at the heart of Taipa Village, sporting an elegant and modern ambiance, is definitely the place to go to.
As one would hope for at a proper Portuguese restaurant, soon after we were seated, our attentive waiter brings what we consider to be the best way to start a meal: a basket with fresh bread with butter, olive oil with balsamic vinegar and garlicky olives alongside. There’s also a wine list from which you can choose the best match for your meal, including amazing sparkling red or white sangria.
Smells like the sea, tastes like heaven
Seafood cream soup is a classic dish, mostly served on Portugal’s coastal areas. The key to an aromatic and rich seafood cream soup is to cook it with top-quality seafood, as these are packed with flavor and will make a big difference. Even before trying our seafood cream soup (see featured image), we knew what it was, just by the aroma it exuded. Colorful, warm, smooth and rich, this soup was everything we wished for, beautifully plated with an edible pasta skewer holding shrimps and scallops together. Absolutely delectable!
Prawns with garlic and chili and all that sauce
Diners will be amazed by the sauteed prawns with a generous amount of garlic and chili, coated in a sauce that blends and enhances all the flavors in perfect harmony. Those who are not too keen on spicy food fear not because the spiciness level is quite balanced. Once again, quality ingredients are key. Chef Herlander uses imported shrimps from Mozambique, which are widely recognized as some of the best, imparting the dish with an unmistakable fresh seafood tang that we love. When done with the prawns, it is highly recommendable to not waste any of the sauce with the help of bread, naturally.
Photo credit: IN Portuguese Food, Codfish Braga Style
Flawless Codfish Braga Style
If you are a fan of Portuguese cuisine, you’re well aware of codfish, one of Portugal’s national dishes. It is said that codfish can be cooked a thousand different ways. Perhaps a thousand is somewhat exaggerated, but that tells how far the obsession for the salted dry fish goes. Codfish Braga Style at IN Portuguese is flawless and here’s why: diners are served a fairly large cut of white tender “bacalhau” (Portuguese for cod), coated in a mix of eggs and flour before being fried, set out along crispy fries and a hearty sauce made of olive oil, onions, and bell peppers that adds in a balanced sweetness. Also worth mentioning, the codfish comes with no bones, as they are carefully removed by the chef beforehand. Don’t you love this kind of thoughtfulness? We sure do!
Photo credit: IN Portuguese Food, Suckling Pig
All-time favorite suckling pig
Suckling pig needs no introduction, people all over the world have their own version of this delicious staple. Chef Herlander Fernandes, born and raised in Cantanhede (a popular region for Leitão, suckling pig in Portuguese) grew up having this fare and serves guests with a mouth-watering classic suckling pig, adding a little twist is the sliced orange, that adds in freshness. The meat is juicy and unbelievably tender, tucked under a cooked to perfection crispy skin. These contrasting textures, soft meat, and crispy skin, resulting in a unique addicting flavor, rightfully paired with a punchy thick sauce (that remains a well-kept secret by the chef), crispy fries and a colorful salad. Suckling pig is an indisputable best seller dish at IN Portuguese Food and its no wonder why–it is delightful!
Photo credit: IN Portuguese Food, serradura
Serradura, the perfect farewell
Well known and beloved by all, serradura is originally a Portuguese dessert which became so popular in Macau that it is nowadays a must-try dishes for visitors. This dessert is simple yet deeply satisfying, sweet but not cloying, assembled in alternate layers of incredibly soft cream and crumbled cookies, served with blackberries on top and beautifully plated with a few mint leaves. We’ve had quite a considerable number of serraduras in numerous spots in town and IN Portuguese Food offers one of the very best!
Whether you’re a visitor exploring the picturesque Taipa Village or a local looking to spend some quality time with family or friends, IN Portuguese Food will provide you with an authentic meal that will make warm your heart and belly. Head over and enjoy the delectable journey!
For reservations, call +853 2857 6700
Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 11:30am–3:00pm, 6:00pm–11:00pm; Saturday–Sunday, 11:30am–11:00pm
IN Portuguese Food 86 GF, Rua Correia da Silva, Taipa Village, +853 2857 6700, www.facebook.com/inportuguesefood
