Cantinho do Aziz Lisbon
Portugal's African heritage
Erik from Lisbon
Portugal has a long and turbulent colonial past, especially with its former territories in Africa. This heritage is still very present if you walk the streets in Lisbon and know where to look. And although colonialism is quite a nasty thing, we should thank it at for the great influx of African influences in Lisbon. This is why so many Portuguese dance, or at least try to, kizomba and kuduro and munch on chicken piri piri and muamba.
Restaurante Cantinho do Aziz is a great and tasty example of Africa's lasting influence on Lisbon. The restaurant is located near Martim Moniz, the epicenter of the Portuguese melting pot, in one of the small alleys leading to the castle.
The restaurant was founded in the '80s by Aziz, who moved from Mozambique to Lisbon. The restaurant is still run by his family. The place is very simple and the staff is friendly.
The food, as you might have guessed, is inspired by Mozambique and its surroundings. As with most food from the region it has a strong Indian influence (=spicy). Come here to have a spicy lunch and a taste of Portuguese Africa. Service is a bit slow, especially on the weekend, so just relax, have a beer and listen to the African music playing in the background.
Lisbon Spotter Erik
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