Restaurant ‘Cantinho do Aziz’ Lisbon: flavors of Mozambique & a naughty secret

Lisbon is the place for fantastic food! Apart from traditional Portuguese cuisine, restaurants from former Portuguese colonies have become more and more popular in recent years, like African and Goan (India) cuisines

Restaurant ‘Cantinho do Aziz’ Mouraria Lisbon: you feel like being in Mozambique!

Portuguese-speaking African countries (former colonies)  in which the Portuguese language is still an official language: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Equatorial Guinea

Restaurant ‘Cantinho do Aziz’ July 2nd 2016: great dinner with lovely friends

The cuisine of Mozambique

The cuisine of Mozambique has been deeply influenced by Portugal. In the early 1500s, the Portuguese colonized Mozambique.

African restaurant ‘Cantinho do Aziz’, Mouraria Lisbon

After over four centuries of Portuguese rule, Mozambique gained independence in 1975

In this restaurant the dishes are not spicy; you have to try a little bit of their piri-piri Sacana pasta: a wonderful combination! (and so does the soft background African music and a beer called Laurentina….).

Cantinho do Aziz restaurant Mouraria Lisbon terrace March 3 piri piri

Restaurant Cantinho do Aziz & home made Piri-Piri ‘SACANA’ (which means ‘son-of-a-bitch’) 

Mozambican food is rich in meats, fish, and shellfish. Piri piri, (or the African Devil) is a traditional hot sauce, added to most meat and fish dishes. It is made from hot peppers or chilies, lemon juice, and spices boiled down to a thick paste. Delicious, but flaming hot!

restaurant-cantinho-do-aziz-lisboa-liesbeth-and-erik-nov-16

African restaurant ‘Cantinho do Aziz’ Lisbon & Erik Herter and Liesbeth Niebling

Sometimes there’s live music because this area is the cradle of Portuguese fado music Video

(Sacana & ocra: pssssssst… a little secret):

Okra (or ladies’ fingers) in combination with ‘Sacana’ piri piri sauce is called ‘mini-Viagra for women)  😉

Restaurant Cantinho do Aziz & very friendly staff

Bambino (his portrait can also be seen on the wall ) and Eunice. This restaurant is an excellent choice to taste true Mozambican food, with honest prices.

Restaurant Cantinho do Aziz & Rob Plews: lovely evening and great food

Muamba de galinha (chicken done in palm oil with okra and african vegetables served with coconut rice) € 8; Makoufe (Prawns, crab and mixture of cabbage, served with coconut rice) € 10; Pulao de Cabrito c/ Arroz de coco (lamb with coconut rice): € 10.

Cantinho do Aziz restaurant Mouraria Lisbon owner Aziz

Restaurant owner Khalid (born in Beira, Mozambique)

Mouraria

Khalid: ‘After the war, in 1982, my father decided to move to Portugal. I was born in Mozambique and arrived in Lisbon as a 1 year-old-kid . In the beginning my father Aziz worked in a restaurant but in 1983 he started his own restaurant here in Mouraria. Nowadays it is very popular! I am married with Jenny (also from Mozambique), we have 2 children. We also lived some years in London’.

Restaurant Cantinho do Aziz Lisbon Laurentina beer

Laurentina beer & lovely ladies

Laurentina is Mozambique’s oldest beer brand. The name is dedicated to lovely ladies: ‘laurentinas’ ;-) 

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February 2015 Lisbon: Ans and Loek Polack from Holland & owner Khalid.

We enjoyed: Chamussas, Camarão com quiabo (prawns in curry sauce with coconut rice), Muamba (chicken done in palm oil with okra and african vegetables served with coconut rice),Yuca wa Miamba (prawns in coconut sauce with okra and manioca),  bebinka (dessert),  jarro do vinho da casa (half house wine).

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Restaurant street Cantinho do Aziz, Mouraria Lisbon

Location: 10 min. walk from startingpoint tram 28, square Martim Moniz: walk via Rua da Madalena, then go up the stairs (Beco dos Surradores) until Largo dos Trigueiros , turn left and there’s the restaurant: Rua das Fontaínhas de São Lourenço 5, phone: (00351) 218876472 Lisbon. Video how to walk to the restaurant from square Martim Moniz

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This restaurant serves fish and vegetarian dishes as well as meat dishes (halal).

Lovely Jenny (married with Aziz) is the boss in the kitchen: ‘my father adored Janice Joplin and Jane Fonda; he combined their names’

Photographer Camilla Watson : fabulous photos printed on wood

Um tributo à Mouraria (‘A tribute to Mouraria): a permanent exhibition of fabulous photos printed on wood on the walls of the streets in a tribute to fadistas or people with a strong connection to the neighborhood. Amazing! Created by British photographer Camilla Watson , who has been living in the area for 6 years.

 

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