Piriquita Pastelaria, Pastries, Pastries Everywhere...

I'm beginning to think pastries are a major food group here in Portugal, though maybe it's only after A. & A.'s visit. I have been brought to my knees with the pastry consumption, though D. is showing great fortitude in the face of having to try all the artisanal products the local bakeries have to offer. In Belem we tried the famous Pastel de Natal  and Sintra we hot footed it to the Piriquita Pastelaria recommended by an enthusiastic guide at the National Palace. We could also have found it if we'd cracked our guidebook but why go that route!

Piriquita was packed with locals and there were pastries galore. The waiter was infinitely patient, poor chap he explained the various pastries at least three time. It seems everything is made from a combination of almond, egg and pastry. There was a oblong Travesseiros de Sintra covered in sugar. The distinctive sweet small baked cheese pastry known as a Queijadas de Sintra (on the left below) and the paper wrapped pastry (in the front below) which included beans. I would particularly recommend the Travesseiros de Sintra.

Of course there are plenty more pastries to try  right here in Lisbon. Yesterday I passed the Confeitaria Nacional founded in 1829 which look very stately and quite wonderful, perhaps I should head down there today...