the “francesinha” sandwich
The Francesinha is an iconic Portuguese sandwich originating from Porto in the 1950s. Often described as a “heart attack on a plate” or a “little French girl” it is a multi-layered, meat-heavy sandwich drenched ina thick, hot beer and tomato sauce, topped with melted cheese, and typically served with fries.
The “francesinha” is a 20th-century culinary creation attributed to Daniel David de Silva who, upon returning to Portugal from time spent in France and Belgium, tried to adapt their “croque-monsieur” sandwich to Portuguese tastes. In 1953, he introduced a sandwich with local meats and a custom beer-and-tomato sauce at a restaurant calls “A Regaleira” in Porto. The “francesinha” quickly became a popular dish, and remains associated with the city.
The “francesinha especial” (special francesinha) adds a fried egg on top.
If visiting Porto one should try a “francesinha” sandwich after burning some calories walking around the city to allow for the indulgence…it is truly worth it. And why not…you can share half of your sandwich with someone else! One thing is important: find a good traditional place to order it (with a firewood oven), as with all traveler attractions it can be found in many places and it should not be considered a fast food product.