This is a story is worth telling.
The four of us were riding along N-222, a scenic byway along the Rio Douro on the way to Quinta do Cachao in São João da Pesqueira, when the low tire pressure light in our rented Fiat 500 (note to self—next time arrange for a larger vehicle if you want to transport four adults and their luggage) lit up in the town of Resende. We stopped at a gas station/food mart (Tangerina Gas n Go) to see if anyone could help. Scott asked an attendant if she spoke English. She said no, but Brito did and pointed us toward him. Brito did not work there—he had stopped for gas—but was happy to check out the car for us. He spoke excellent English with a bit of an Irish brogue, having worked for an Irish/English shipping company at one point. After he filled the tires, we asked him for a recommendation for a local restaurant. He said “follow me.”
Not even a little suspicious, we proceeded to follow his truck up increasingly steep and narrow roads. I was planning to buy him lunch. I don’t recall who said it first, but someone brought up the fact that we really didn’t know where he was taking us and did anyone remember that movie when that family was lured into that trap with that man with the strange mask and the chainsaw…
Still, we continued to follow him up and up until we arrived at the Douro d Vista, a restaurant on beautiful grounds high above the Rio Douro. Brito took us into the restaurant and introduced us to his friends who worked there. We asked him to join us as our guest, but he was going home to eat lunch with his mother, so he declined.
We had the best meal we have had—and probably hope to have—in Portugal. Between the bacalau, the pork, the beef, the clams, and the fixings, we couldn’t say enough about how good the food was. It’s location is the epitome of “hidden gem,” as it’s not easy to find, but it deserves a special place in culinary heaven. As does Brito.
Here are a few images from the drive from Porto to Sao Joao de Pesqueira. The Douro river valley is Portugal’s Napa Vally—know for it’s excellent grapes for making port and other wines.
