In Lisbon, September wouldn’t be September without the annual competition to find the city’s best pastel de nata. The contest is back and, after the initial elimination rounds, we now know which 12 spots will be competing for the title. The winner will be announced on September 30 as part of the Cookery Congress, an annual gathering of Portugal’s gastronomic community.
Competitors must apply to participate in the final round, except for those who came first, second and third in last year’s competition – they get automatically included in this year’s final. This time around, that’s Confeitaria Glória (last year’s winner), Padaria da Né in Damaia (second place), and O Pãozinho das Marias in Mafra (third place).
Joining them are nine others: Altis Belém & Spa, Bread & Friends, Casa do Padeiro, Castro – Atelier de Pastéis de Nata (which just opened a branch inside the new Zara in the city’s Rossio Square), Nat’elier, Pão da Ribeira, Pastelaria Aloma (which won the prize in 2012, 2013, and 2015), Pastelaria Batalha, and Pastelaria País dos Doces.
The competition’s jury will determine the winner after a blind tasting at the Cookery Congress. The judging panel will be made up of Diogo Lopes and Lara Figueiredo, pastry chefs at the Ritz Four Seasons and Penha Longa Resort, respectively; Joana Barrios, presenter and cookbook author; Virgílio Gomes, gastronome and jury president; João Pedro Gomes, researcher and professor in gastronomy; Catarina Amado from Edições do Gosto, a company which specialises in events, promotion and communication in all things related to gastronomy; Isabel Zibaia Rafael, blogger and cookbook author; Cláudia Lima Carvalho, food & drink editor at Time Out Lisbon; and wine expert Domingos Soares Franco.
Hungry for more? Check out our list of the best restaurants in Lisbon.
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