Mystery Dinner

On each Founder's tour, Patti plans a mystery dinner. We have absolutely no idea where we are going or what we are going to eat until we get there. This time we walked and walked until we got to a very traditional Portuguese restaurant where we met "The King of Cod". Cod is recognized as the most traditional meal of Portugal, so it seems appropriate.

Once inside we realized that we were the only outsiders participating in a very Portuguese evening. It was very much like being welcomed into their homes. 

Unfortunately, I really do not like cod. If I go into a fish and chip restaurant, I will pass on the cod, choosing instead just about any other fish. My judgement still stands.

The music for the evening was "fado". When the fishermen went off to sea, the wives were never sure that they would return, so a musical form was created to lament the sad possibilities. When they went to sea, the tone was mournful. When they returned, the music was joyful. It was a wonderful experience, even though we could not understand a word, and even though it went on and on and on. It was wonderful to be welcomed into a truly Portuguese experience.

Bill and Jill love cod.

Patti (on the left) is the organizer.

The main dish was wonderful on the top (crusty and savoury) and on the bottom (potatoes and vegetables). Unfortunately, the middle was cod.

Each of these singers performed independently and in groups. Their voices were wonderful and varied.

Oddly, there was only one female singer. Up to this point, I had understood that Fado was primarily a female musical form.

Earlier in the day, Deb and I had been exploring the possibility of attending a local Fado concert. A young woman was advertised as a modern Fado performer. If dinner had been earlier, we would have gone to this concert. As it turned out, we could not and did not have to.