A visit to the temple

It's probably a safe bet that most folks in Toronto have tried a Portuguese custard tart at some point in their lives, and for the most part they're pretty darn good. What's not to like about a sweet custard filling swaddled in a tender pastry embrace? Well, since you asked, let's be honest: sometimes the custard is a little cloying and the crust...well, not so crusty. There can be a tendency to over- shorten (or over- age!) the pastry, and who wants to exercise their jawbone on a what's supposed to be a flaky treat?

OK, thanks for putting up with that! 

And thanks for indulging us as we share with you that we have recently traveled (on your behalf, of course!) to the Mecca of Portuguese custard tarts, the home in Belem of the famous *pasteis*. 

The place is a mad house...In one door if you want table service, in another if you just want counter service. Place your order, hand over your euros and move to the next line. Hand over your receipt, receive your order, and find a place to stand at the counter while you try to savour both the experience and the pastries before feeling obliged to relinquish your space to the Japanese lady hovering behind you. 

But BAM, these babies give you a smack up the side of the head that'll make you forget that there's anyone else in the place! Custard that tastes more of egg than sugar, and a crust that makes you swoon (and makes a mess of everything below your chin) Nirvana! 

Enough chatter! Here are a few images of  our research (including a couple of discreet shots of what lay below the counter). On our return we promise to sample some of the elixirs stashed in the cubbies of the historic walls.