Mediterranean Cheese Board & Cascais, Portugal

Mediterranean Cheese Board & Cascais, Portugal will delight your taste buds and your travel itch!

First off we’re headed to Cascais, Portugal a quaint ocean side city!

I fell right in love with this little town. . . the beach, the fishing boats, and the light houses were so enchanting. I was completely lost meandering the cobblestone & mosaic pathways, cafes, and merchant stores.

Even though parts of Portugal, Spain, and Italy don’t actually touch the Mediterranean Sea, they are all located within the Mediterranean region of Europe. So, I found Mediterranean influences through out all those countries and that there were similarities in architecture, cuisines, and the culture. (I wouldn’t dare say that to them though!)

I loved all the cities I visited. . . see and read more about them HERE.

Cascais, Portugal

Cascais is a coastal resort town in Portugal, just west of Lisbon. It’s known for its sandy beaches and busy marina. The old town is home to the medieval Nossa Senhora da Luz Fort and the Citadel Palace, a former royal retreat. Nearby is the whitewashed Nossa Senhora da Assunção church, with glazed azulejo tiles. Many visitors come to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, sailing, and surfing.

I found a park and nature walkway which complements the beauty of Cascais region perfectly, it’s been supported by Portuguese and foreign Nobility and Aristocracy since the 18th century. It is composed of several flower, plant and lawn areas, a small river, several ponds, a snack park, a mini-zoo, a greenhouse, a traditional games’ area and a children’s park. I also visited the museum there, art gallery, and the walked through out the parkway enjoying every moment.

I love the ocean anytime of year it’s mesmerizing, peaceful, and inspiring. I made friends with the bird in the photo above or rather he made friends with me AND my sandwich! I was sitting on a bench near the water watching the waves roll in and out when he came right up to me, watching me eat my sandwich. Naturally, I was inclined to share because he was so patiently waiting for crumbs to fall. We made friends over the crust of my bread; mutually enjoying our time! He let me snap a few quick photos and then with one fail swoop he was gone.

Now, lets talk about our Mediterranean Cheese Board

I adore a good cheese board! I mean who doesn’t? A combination of savory and sweet paired with a lovely wine is one of my favorite ways to start a meal. While I was traveling in Portugal I loved to stop in lovely little wine and cheese merchants. In fact the handmade ceramic olive dish today’s pictures came home from Portugal with me! I love it. 🙂

On our board today we have three kinds of cheese; feta with sesame seed crust, a white stilton, and a spicy aged cheddar. There are dolmades with lemon wedges, a variety of olives, and hummus with 7-seed crackers. To round it out I added a little touch of sweet with blueberries and fig/date and almond squares. Enjoy!