Portgual Now, Oregon then...

[Jonathan Wexler]

Greetings from Portugal. I was formerly from Portland Oregon. Long-time prowler and mail recipient. Here in Portugal I could not locate a Smokey Mountain so am using a similar European unit. Portugal is a poor country so many "high end" or typically available products in the US simply can't be located here. I own the only 2 bags of Weber briquettes in the country. Now I must adapt and sort through the various brands of lump-ish charcoal to try to find something of quality.

Very few people who have not traveled to the US, have any idea what BBQ is and only know smokers for the purpose of making chorizo. This week I was told: "Portugal people don't like that meat", when searching for a brisket. Yesterday the butcher looked at me in confusion when I asked about buying butcher paper...He had some handkerchief width stuff for tiny packages. Here meat get dropped into big plastic bags. Every day an adventure.

 

[TonyUK]

Greetings.
"Portugal is a poor country so many "high end" or typically available products in the US simply can't be located here. I own the only 2 bags of Weber briquettes in the country. I own the only 2 bags of Weber briquettes in the country."

Au contraire:
Algarve. (63 in stock).
Algarve. WSM.

España. (Free shipping on orders over €50).

There are plenty of quality suppliers of charcoal, briqs & BBQ equipment on the continent.

May I suggest that you refrain from your US mindset, and embrace your new environment to what it has to offer, even if it is limited. US type BBQ may well be an alien concept in Portugal. Roll with it.
I've been to Portugal on numerous ocassions. The best grilled sardines on the planet. Love the place.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

There are plenty of people outside the US with a perfectly fine grasp on barbecue, a rather arrogant statement for someone that had been in Portugal a short time, find your feet and do some exploration, you will find tons of interesting things to grill and smoke, it’s a different culture, learn more about it. You will find it different but, equally entertaining.