Eat the match: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
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The couve-flor assada and feijão com fideos. Photo: Shafaq Patel
Ahead of Tuesday's Portugal vs. Uzbekistan match, I revisited the cuisines of both countries.
The big picture: Houston has no shortage of international food, but Portuguese and Uzbek options are relatively limited. Luckily, we do have Oporto and Foreign Grill.
- And because I've traveled to both countries, I couldn't help comparing these meals to my experiences.
Oporto
This Portuguese restaurant near Midtown has become a World Cup gathering spot, with flags hanging throughout, matches on the screens and no shortage of Cristiano Ronaldo jerseys.
What to order: If you like seafood and wine, start there, as that's a big part of Portuguese cuisine. If you want to try something else from their large menu, the server-recommended charred cauliflower and baked beans were flavorful without being overpowering.
Zoom in: The most iconic Portuguese dessert is pastel de nata, an egg custard tart that you'll find all over the country. When I visited Portugal (during the 2018 World Cup, when I got to witness first-hand the country's fandom) I had these delightful desserts regularly, for less than 2 euros.
- Admittedly, Oporto's lemon custard version was amazing. But I did cry a little at the $9 cost.
Foreign Grill
Foreign Grill specializes in Eastern European and Uzbek cuisine, but it's letting Uzbek food shine during the World Cup. The restaurant uses imported Uzbek rice, halal meat and traditional recipes. It first launched at the Conservatory food hall before moving to POST Houston downtown.
What to order: You can't get much more traditional than plov and somsa. The rice, vegetable, and meat dish and savory pastry are staples of daily life in Uzbekistan and foods I ate repeatedly during my trip this year; they often came straight from massive pilaf cauldrons and big tandoor ovens.
- Sadly, the restaurant does not serve desserts anymore — which were a highlight of my trip (especially the honey and Napoleon cakes).
The bottom line: Houston makes it easy to revisit your travels — or discover somewhere new.