Francesinha poveira

Francesinha Poveira, often simply referred to as Francesinha, is a distinctive fast food delicacy originating from Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal. Picture a hot dog, but instead of the typical ingredients, it's brimming with linguiça (a type of sausage), ham, cheese, and mustard, all encased within a special bread known as Pão Cacete or Pão de Francesinha. This bread is a delightful cross between a baguette and a hot dog bun.

The origins of the Francesinha Poveira date back to 1962 at Café Guarda-Sol, situated in the vibrant Passeio Alegre beach square in Póvoa de Varzim. This café, which opened in June 1922, holds the distinction of being the oldest café-bar in Póvoa and was Portugal's very first beach bar. The Povean version of Francesinha drew inspiration from the original recipe created by Daniel da Silva in Porto. Alberto Moreira, the manager of Guarda-Sol, collaborated with António Carriço from Lisbon to develop a unique version. Carriço proposed the idea of using a special type of bread, aptly named "francesinha bread" (pão de francesinha), resembling a smaller baguette.

A standout feature of the Francesinha is its delectable sauce. This rich, flavorful sauce is a blend of butter, margarine, tomato paste, piri piri (a type of chili), white pepper, garlic, paprika, and a splash of alcoholic beverages such as cognac, brandy, port wine, or whisky.