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Business & Tech

A Slice of European Dining on Mineola Boulevard

Partaking of the Heart of Portugal's seafood specialties.

Portugal's location on the Iberian Peninsula helped shape and mold the cuisine of its country. Since the country is mountainous and seafaring there is a great mix of tastes that one can experience in any meal. At the Heart of Portugal the owner and head chef, Avelino Pinto, believes that his food should be fresh from the ocean, playing into a nautical theme in the dining area and clearly displayed in the menu choices and meals he serves. The bread served at the beginning of the meal is a range of sweet dense slices from a Portuguese style loaf and crunchy rolls. 

For an appetizer the smoked Portuguese sausage ($8.95) comes to the table under a flaming plate. As the fires dance around the meat for a minute the skin develops a crunchy outside layer. The meat is marbled with large chunks of pork and fat. All the flavors and textures meld together to create a savory, smoky, crunchy sausage that goes well with a nice glass of Portuguese wine. If you prefer a different taste, other countries are also represented on the wine list.   

Portuguese salad ($6.95) is nice light way to start the meal as well. The romaine lettuce base is topped with shredded carrots, finely sliced red onion, asparagus tomato slices, and red and green peppers.  To add sweetness to the dish freshly sliced red apples are layered on top. The dressing is a special house recipe that calls for a mix of vegetables, olive oil and vinaigrette. The sweet flavor of the apples mixes well with the vegetables and the dressing and is a light coating that finds its way onto every bite.

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Portugal's specialty is seafood and is well reflected in the menu with a numerous array of fish and crustaceans. The Paiella Marinheira ($24.95) is a medley of lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, and clams over a bed of saffron rice. It's brought to the table in a piping hot pot and as soon as the steam clears the cover a mix of colors strikes the eyes. The soft, tender meat on the seafood was easy to pull out of the shell and the saffron rice was flavored with broth of the seafood mix. The flavorful broth itself can thank the seafood mix for its fresh taste.

The meal can be rounded out with a selection of European deserts. A slice of flan ($7.95) with whip cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce is a sweet tasting finisher. The combination of ingredients melts as soon as it hits the tongue.

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