Porto. July 2016
the little Frenchie
Some cities have a food that is de rigueur - a cheesesteak sandwich in Philadelphia, champon in Nagasaki, Al Baik fried chicken in Jeddah, chicken inasal in Bacolod, AND a francesinha in Porto.
A francesinha is
a Portuguese sandwich originally from Porto, made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, fresh sausage like chipolata, steak or roast meat, and covered with melted cheese and a hot and thick spiced tomato and beer sauce. It is typically served with french fries.
Basically, the sandwich tasted like every comfort food rolled into one on steroids. It only lacked an egg (some versions may well include egg since a francesinha has many variations) to make it the clear winner for " best artery-clogging, cholesterol-inducing food that can be eaten in one sitting". Many restaurants served it in Porto and it was easy to order since there were no questions or options when interacting with a non-English speaking waiter. Just say "francesinha" and wait for it show up. I am not sure I "loved" it, because Portugal was filled with so many other healthier and more delicious options, but I will admit that it hit the spot.
I initially thought it was some Portuense's attempt at American fast food since it smacked of all the unhealthy stuff to which my country's people are addicted. Alas, it is derived from something far more noble in the culinary arts, a croque monsieur.
Daniel David de Silva, a returned French emigrant from France and Belgium, tried to adapt the croque-monsieur to the Portuguese taste when he moved to Porto. He first made the sandwich with local meats and his special sauce in 1953 at 'A Regaleira', a restaurant in Rua do Bonjardim, Porto; the francesinha quickly became a very popular dish and deeply associated with the city, although it can be found in many other places in Portugal. A classic francesinha meal would include the sandwich, surrounded on a bed of French fries doused in the famous sauce, and complemented with a fino, a draught beer.
(Wikipedia)
My greatest find in Porto [see: Porto] was definitely vinho verde (green wine). I will always seek that out whenever I am in a hot climate - the only wine that has ever come close to giving a cold Pinot Grigio a run for the money on a summer day. As for a little Frenchie? If offered it again, I might split one with a friend in a vain attempt to be healthier and prolong my life for another month or two. That wet sandwich wasn't so great that I would seek it out and bring others to taste it. Am I a diet humanitarian? From the guy who loves pizza and chicken wings, I doubt it.
Perhaps more of an experience than a food, anyone wanting to try Porto's signature dish should go on an empty stomach - bon apetit!
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