UMAMI & GARUM SEAFOOD LISBON FOOD TOUR

In November 2021, Smithsonian Magazine published an article titled, "Culinary Detectives Try to Recover the Formula for a Deliciously Fishy Roman Condiment." The article follows scientists deciphering a recipe for garum from the charred paste of fish bones recovered from Pompeii (using a gas chromatograph and a scanning electron microscope, no less). Well, it turns out the Roman Empire's largest production facility for garum was in Lusitania (now Portugal). In 2021, a Lisbon chef and restauranteur partnered with archeologists and fermented garum on the site of Tróia’s ruins (near Lisbon) for the first time in 1600 years. If you've read this far, you're probably the perfect candidate for this experience. Host Sílvia partnered with these very restaurant guys to create the tastings for her Umami & Garum Lisbon Food Tour. You'll visit their restaurant and consume off-menu dishes that showcase both cured fish and the pungent sauce. It's a curated experience with an expert and personable guide. Be sure to drink plenty of water—and enjoy!

"Um food tour que vale cada garfada! A Sílvia é uma grande anfitriã e uma verdadeira foodie, com um conhecimento profundo dos vários temas. Os diferentes pratos que experimentamos tinham sabores únicos que nunca tinha experimentado. É sem dúvida uma experiência única, a não perder."

"Silvia is a very nice and good-humored woman who has a wide knowledge that she likes to share. It is a unique special culinary experience in which you get to know new tastes. Highly recommended!"

"It was a totally new experience for me. I decided to do this tour solo, thinking that I know most of the city by now, and what was my surprise - I didn't expect to discover such an interesting and incredible story behind the walls of an old Lisbon that Silvia told us. I am a big fan of fish and sushi, so it was a real pleasure to learn about the production of umami and garum and to taste it afterwards. The feast of several dishes, each paired with an exquisite wine, was really something to remember. Afterwards, we were able to learn some interesting facts about all kinds of fish and their specialties, as well as enjoy some good conversation with other travelers. The tour itself wasn't tiring, so we didn't have to run anywhere, just walk moderately. I highly recommend this tour as it is unique and one of a kind, you definitely won't see anything similar in Lisbon and who knows if even in Europe! :)"

My friend and I were looking for a food tour in Lisbon and this one caught our eye because we hadn't seen anything like it before. It is different from standard multiple-stop tours in that you are seated in one restaurant having multiple courses after a short walk around town that offers some historical background. All of the food was delicious and beautifully presented (it looked like art) and learning about the history of garum in Portugal was so interesting. "You do not have to be a fish lover; I think one of the things that the tour tries to illustrate is how many ways fish can be prepared and preserved and how it can take on different flavors. There were multiple varieties of fish I had never tried before. You DO need to appreciate umami flavors, but hopefully that would be obvious from the name of the tour. Afterwards, Silvia sent us an email packed with recommendations for other places to eat and things to do. I tried two of the restaurants she suggested and they were wonderful. Thank you - I will be back for more the next time I'm in Portugal!"

"Amazing trip with the knowledgeable hostess of Oh my Cod (my 3 rd trip). I have gone in the 17 tastings tour which is exceptional and thought it was time to try the Umami tour. It was an exceptional evening. Don’t be scare off by the thought of fish and fish oil. The food was outstanding and you won’t be able to try the dishes anywhere else. As with their other tours, the Umami tour seamlessly blends history, eating and drinking - so that the tour is so much more than just food. Take a chance! You’ll love it!"