Finding something that could be gastronomically associated with the city/municipality of Almada (where the Cristo Rei shrine is built) was an easy task since there is no lack of original recipes and restaurants where we can find truly delicious dishes.
But what came immediately to my mind were the holidays in my youth that were spent in Costa da Caparica and a few confectionery cakes that we used to eat at tea time or dessert, since in the morning the Bola de Berlim (Berlin ball) with or without custard cream filling together with fried potatoes that tasted of sun and sea were unavoidable delicacies.
I am talking about “claudinos” and “garibaldis”, two confectionery cakes made in the old Costa Nova confectioner’s and restaurant, located in center Costa da Caparica, that are forever present in my memory.
Costa Nova disappeared but its pastry-cooks were hired by the O Capote confectioner’s that was founded 28 years ago. The original recipes of “claudinos” and “garibaldis” were therefore kept unchanged and secret since the pastry-cooks that have worked there over the years belonged to the same family.
“Claudino” is a puff-pastry cake with an innovative design in the shape of a crunchy cigar divided into two parts and filled with custard cream with a hint of vanilla.
“Garibaldi” is a 6 cm cube-shaped cake. It is a consistent chocolate mousse between a basis and a top of “pão de ló” (a spongy, eggy cake) that is covered with a thick layer of hard chocolate.
A visit to Costa da Caparica to enjoy a fresh garibaldi or a warm claudino from the O Capote confectioners’ is truly a worthy experience. You will see you will not regret it.
