Where to get Pastéis de Nata
Origin Trade Inc. ·
T&T Supermarket ·
Mario's Food Centre ·
Boulangerie Estoril ·
Anabia Cupcakery Café ·
Lisbon Bakery (Baseline Rd) ·
Portuguese Bakery
Comments
2017 Sep 25
From my visit to Lisbon last July, this is how a good pastel de nata should look. This was just from a random pastry shop—not from the world famous Pastéis de Belém.
Above all, they must be fresh and not refrigerated, lest the shatteringly crisp crusts become chewy and sad. The only Ottawa place where the pastéis are never refrigerated is T&T Supermarket, but their custard recipe is a little too eggy. The filling at Portuguese Bakery is very good but they’ve been refrigerated every time I’ve visited. :(
Above all, they must be fresh and not refrigerated, lest the shatteringly crisp crusts become chewy and sad. The only Ottawa place where the pastéis are never refrigerated is T&T Supermarket, but their custard recipe is a little too eggy. The filling at Portuguese Bakery is very good but they’ve been refrigerated every time I’ve visited. :(
2017 Mar 25
Dropping by with coworkers for an afternoon pick-me-up, I noticed three pastéis de nata sitting under a glass display dome. So of course I had no choice but to try one!
The price of $2.75 or $3.25 was pretty steep (easily double what one would pay elsewhere) but this is the Market and we accept a wide range of normal. I suspect they bring these in from the nearby Portuguese Bakery so a markup is to be expected.
Unfortunately, I received the least baked of the three. As you can see in the photo it lacks the delicious black spots that mark an excellent pastel. The filling was really nice but the pastry had suffered from being on display for too long. Soft and lightly chewy, there was no sign of the characteristic crunch that makes these iconic Portuguese tarts so famous.
The price of $2.75 or $3.25 was pretty steep (easily double what one would pay elsewhere) but this is the Market and we accept a wide range of normal. I suspect they bring these in from the nearby Portuguese Bakery so a markup is to be expected.
Unfortunately, I received the least baked of the three. As you can see in the photo it lacks the delicious black spots that mark an excellent pastel. The filling was really nice but the pastry had suffered from being on display for too long. Soft and lightly chewy, there was no sign of the characteristic crunch that makes these iconic Portuguese tarts so famous.
2010 Jul 23
Who would have thought that fresh Portuguese egg tarts would be available from the bakery of a giant Asian grocery store?
These are sold still warm, and they are very popular! I picked some up today for the first time and I can say that they are as good or better than many I've had in Portugal.
Note: These are the straightforward, eggy kind of pastel found in most Portuguese cafes. The elusive (and superior) Pastéis de Belém (www.pasteisdebelem.pt/en.html) are found only in one shop in Lisbon, and differ by their thinner crust (more like phyllo, less like puff pastry) and the aromatic hints of lemon and cinnamon in the filling.
These currently go for $1.09 each or $4.99 for six.
These are sold still warm, and they are very popular! I picked some up today for the first time and I can say that they are as good or better than many I've had in Portugal.
Note: These are the straightforward, eggy kind of pastel found in most Portuguese cafes. The elusive (and superior) Pastéis de Belém (www.pasteisdebelem.pt/en.html) are found only in one shop in Lisbon, and differ by their thinner crust (more like phyllo, less like puff pastry) and the aromatic hints of lemon and cinnamon in the filling.
These currently go for $1.09 each or $4.99 for six.
2013 Jul 12
These would probably be amazing fresh from the oven, but they came from the refrigerated display case and were consequently soft. That is just wrong, and at $1.75 it is a costly mistake.
The filling was more authentic tasting than the product available at T&T Supermarket, but this did not make up for the poor condition of the crust and the inflated price. Pastéis de Nata are supposed to have a wonderful crisp and chewy/flaky shell.
Maybe worth getting if you're near Baseline/Greenbank and you *reeeeally* need a pastry with your coffee. ;-)
The filling was more authentic tasting than the product available at T&T Supermarket, but this did not make up for the poor condition of the crust and the inflated price. Pastéis de Nata are supposed to have a wonderful crisp and chewy/flaky shell.
Maybe worth getting if you're near Baseline/Greenbank and you *reeeeally* need a pastry with your coffee. ;-)
warby