Culinary History Enthusiasts of Wisconsin (CHEW)

press release: 

“More than Bacalhau: A Short Culinary History of Portugal”

By Joan Peterson and Ronnie Hess

There’s an old saying about Portuguese cooking—that there are 365 bacalhau (salt cod) dishes, one for each day of the year. Put another way, bacalhau is the emblem of Portugal’s culture, what defines Portuguese cuisine. But Ronnie Hess and Joan Peterson beg to differ. Authors of Ginkgo Press’ latest Eat Smart guide, Eat Smart in Portugal (2017), the two women have been appreciating and studying the culinary history of this small Iberian nation for many years.  They contend that the Portuguese diet is extremely varied. Distinctive meats (especially sausages and hams), game, poultry, fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs, dairy products and achingly-sweet desserts have characterized Portuguese cooking historically. In fact, bread may be more at the heart of Portuguese cooking than bacalhau.

In this talk, Ronnie and Joan will share what they’ve gleaned from their research and their several visits to Portugal, including a special culinary tour they led last fall crisscrossing the country. The trip included visits to Michelin-starred restaurants as well as home kitchens, highlighting the increasing importance of Portugal as a food lover’s destination.

Ronnie Hess, author of Eat Smart in France, is an award-winning journalist who has had a long and passionate interest in cuisine. Her food and travel writing has appeared in national and regional publications. When she isn’t traveling, especially to Portugal, she lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Joan Peterson, series creator and publisher (Ginkgo Press, Inc.), has written or co-written 11 of the 14 award-winning EAT SMART guides, which cover the cuisines of Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Morocco, India, Peru, Sicily, Norway, and Portugal. She has traveled extensively for many years, and leads culinary tours to Turkey, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Sicily and Jordan.

Please join us at 7:15 pm at the Goodman Community Center, 149 Waubesa St., Madison, WI 53704; 608-241-1574. For more information, visit the CHEW website at http://www.chewwisconsin.com/ or visit our Facebook page. To get on the mailing list, or for additional information, email Joan Peterson at info@eatsmartguides.com or call Jean DeVore at 608-836-1368.  

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