Boney, stinky, slimy, scaly…

Grilled, breaded, filleted, steamed… 

Joe Staiano here, Founder of Meaningful Trips.  When I sit and reflect on my favorite travel foods in my round-the-world travels, there is an obvious grouping… Seafood! Wanted to share some of my personal favorite fish and seafood dishes I’ve had while traveling. 

Here’s my countdown:

#3:  AMEIJOAS a BULHAO PATO, Portugal.

While in coastal Nazare, we poked our head into Casa O ‘Santo, definitely more of a local pub more so than fancy restaurant. Local men stood at the bar. We were greeted and ushered to a plain wooden table. There is only ONE thing served on the menu… Ameijoas. So we ordered the Ameijoas a Bulhao Pato, a classic dish of coastal Portugal. In no time at all, we were brought a giant bowl of fresh steam clams bathing in a sauce of butter, garlic and lemon.  Utensils? Ha!  We used our hands. Well, we were given one utensil.. bread!   As heavenly as the clams were, sopping up the sauce with bread was my favorite. In the end, our table was a bowl of empty clam shells and dozens of used napkins. Oh yeah, and two empty wine glasses.  The clams and wine came to about $10 total.     

#2. BALIK EKMEK (FISH SANDWICH)

under the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey

#1:  PULPO A  LA GALLEGA, Galicia, Spain