Changing perceptions of the city’s cuisine by highlighting under-represented communities.
Though integral elements of Lisbon life, communities from Portugal’s former colonies can sometimes be an invisible presence in their adopted land, pushed out to the periphery.
With our “Post-Colonial Lisbon” series, Culinary Backstreets hopes to bring these communities back into the center, looking at their cuisine, history and cultural life.
Post-Colonial Lisbon
A multi-faceted project combining riveting storytelling, rich documentation, unique travel experiences and community activism to secure “a seat at the table” for the often-overlooked communities from Portugal's former colonies living in Lisbon.
Community Documentation
In 2017, Culinary Backstreets created a dedicated category on its website for documenting Lisbon’s Post-Colonial Kitchens. Composed of professionally written restaurant reviews and features on the history and context of these communities, the archive now consists of more than 30 articles and growing. Through publication and promotion to the general public, Culinary Backstreets works to include more flavors in the Lisbon palate.
Community Events
Working with the community association, AMRT, and spotlighting the community of Talude, a favela on Lisbon’s outskirts home to a large community from Cape Verde and threatened with imminent demolition, Culinary Backstreets organizes regular excursions for locals, tourists and members of the press to the neighborhood which include urban farm visits, a feast with the community, musical performances and a visit to a home distillery.
Tourism Activities
Culinary Backstreets created the first and only culinary tour dedicated to the cuisines of the former colonies in Lisbon. Working with the non-profit association, Batoto Yetu, the tour focuses on diverse communities, from Cape Verde to Goa, Brazil to Guinea, and the culinary stakeholders – chefs, street food vendors, shopkeepers – amplifying their voices and their stories.
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Outreach and Advocacy
Through its international network of food and travel journalists and F&B industry professionals, Culinary Backstreets is working to bring the post-Colonial Lisbon story to the forefront. Achievements include participation in the prestigious culinary workshop Manja, “African Connection”, bringing our story to Portuguese change-makers.
Leveraging Partnerships
A dedicated Post-Colonial Lisbon day on our week-long culinary trip with Atlas Obscura.
Publication with partners such as Fare Magazine (“Lisbon’s Grog Trail" in the July 2022 issue).
Regenerative Tourism
Each facet of this project is designed to be regenerative; not just preserving the communities where we work but actively contributing to their improvement. Enabling local organizations, capacity building and investing in longterm partnerships are key elements to its success, resulting in unforgettable experiences for the guest and real benefit for the host communities.
Culinary Backstreets: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of the Kitchen
Working in 16 cities worldwide, Culinary Backstreets is a leader in the field of culinary travel. In everything we do, from publication to tours and trips to activism, our goal remains to be a positive force of change in our industry and contribute to sustainable community development in the cities where we work and live.