Portuguese Wine Flight & Pasteis de Nata {event} - The Recap

Earlier this year I launched Figs and Flights {events}. They're an in person celebration of my motto: life fueled by food and travel. They are an extension of the Figs and Flights blog and brand. The {events} take place in Seattle and focus on another place, it's culture, and cuisine.

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​On Saturday night we gathered at Luso Food and Wine in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood to celebrate Portugal with the Portuguese Wine Flight and Pasteis de Nata {event}. This was the fourth Figs and Flights {event}.

In short it was the BEST {event} so far! 18 of us overtook the tiny wine bar, the level of excitement was high, and we had a blast together drinking wine and indulging in the sweet Portuguese treats. 

Welcome to the Portugal {event}!

I made you this!

You buy the tickets, I'll plan the rest.

Why Luso?

Luso Food and Wine seems to be the only Portuguese restaurant/wine bar in all of Seattle! I drive past it almost daily since it's very close to my house and both of my jobs. 

I emailed Fatima, the owner, inquiring about holding an event. She was excited from the start. When she agreed to make Pasteis de Nata it was a done deal! I screenshotted her email and sent it to my friends who visited Portugal with me immediately. 

We had a little meeting and she let me taste the wines in advance, which was great. 

Luso is open for dinner Wednesdays through Sundays each week. They LOVE private events and the pasteis de nata were better than expected. We will surely be back there often and frequently. 

Luso Food and Wine mimics my Fav 5 Portugal list almost immediately with wine, COLOR, and pasteis de nata.

Fatima, the Owner of Luso, and I

How was the Portugal {event} different from the others?

It sold out! Most people still waited until the last minute to get tickets but we did finally sell out. I wanted no more than 16-18 people and that's exactly what we had. It's important that everyone feels connected and that there aren't a few people stranded across the room. Double win. 

This was the first {event} where we didn't have dinner! So many friends joined us after a great meal elsewhere. They were fed, happy, and ready for wine and dessert!

It was the first Saturday {event} and, since we didn't have dinner, we started at 7:00 pm which is a little later than the previous Friday and Sunday events. 

The name cards and event cards were again improved! It's been an ongoing process to get them just right and this time they were. I eliminated the white space around the event cards and corrected the name cards so that guests names and Figs and Flights could both be seen once they were in the holders. 

Finally, I feel much better about my speaking part. I kept reminding myself that if I am having fun the guests will too! (Not unlike in a spin class when I have more fun because the instructor is having fun.) I took more deep breaths, used my notecards as reminders rather than reading directly from them, and included more personal thoughts and stories. 

NOW we're having fun!

What were the giveaways?

This {event} exceeded all of the others with giveaways! I specifically wanted to work with local and delicious companies to add extra value to my Figs and Flights audience. 

Adoboloco is a Maui born company that operates here in the PNW. They make hot sauces and marinades and couldn't be nicer people. (It's that Aloha spirit.) They sent TONS of goodies for Figs and Flights readers and guests. Three lucky {event} guests took home either their Hawaiian BBQ marinade or a three-pack of the hot sauces.

Ken's Market/Marketime Foods is a local Seattle grocer. They're where I first saw figs this summer! They generously donated a $50 gift card for the {event}. That means someone MADE $10 because the ticket to the {event} was $40. HOT TIP: Prizes have been given repeatedly to the first person to buy a ticket at more than one Figs and Flights {event} now.

Luso donated TWO bottles of wine! That's a total of 6 prizes. With 18 guests the odds were pretty good.

Prizes from Adoboloco and Ken's Market/Marketime Foods

How did the {event} go?

It was a GREAT TIME. 

Once everyone arrived and got settled at the table I spoke for just a bit about food and travel and what brought me to Portugal. I touched on the wine, the Douro Valley, and pasteis de nata. 

Fatima took over from there and carefully explained each of the six (!!) wines. We had two whites, two reds, then two Port wines. I must admit that our attention waned over the course of the night as we had more wine! We all PERKED RIGHT UP when the pasteis de nata arrived. Fatima explained a little bit of history of the natas, as she calls them. When Portuguese nuns were using egg whites to iron shirt collars with, the yolks were discarded and these lovely, lovely desserts were invented! WHO KNEW?

I corralled the gang's attention once more to wrap up the {event} and distribute the giveaways. Some folks had to run home to relieve babysitters and others stayed for a late dinner and/or more wine! 

Mid-event organized chaos!

Picture inception, just what I like at an event #figsandflightsevents

How did the pasteis de nata compare to those in Portugal?

Fatima's pasteis were EXCELLENT! They were just as delicious and rich as those we had in Portugal. The crust was perfectly flaky. Her unique addition was lemon in the custard and that unexpected zest took hers to the next level. 

They actually reminded me of Crema Catalana which was my favorite dessert from Barcelona. It's also lemony and cinnamon-y so now my wheels are turning for a Barcelona {event}. 

Lovely little pasteis de nata!

The moment we were all waiting for: when the pasteis de nata arrived!

The whole event summed up in one photo!

I'm so happy and proud to have found pasteis de nata in Seattle!

What's next for Figs and Flights {events}?

I'm not quite sure yet! Thoughts of a Hawaii {event} linger, I'm excited to find a spot for Barcelona and overdue for a Nashville hot chicken {event}. 

In October we're heading to California (specifically Palm Springs and Disneyland for Oogie Boogie's Halloween Bash) and Oahu, Hawaii. Perhaps a November {event} will come to fruition. Either way I'm excited to carry these {events} into 2020 and to see YOU, yes you, there!

Obrigada - that's Portuguese for thanks - for coming to the {event} and/or reading about it now. 

If you want to be alerted about future {events} use the 'receive updates via email' feature on the right side of this page to get emails from Figs and Flights. 

Please follow @figsandflights on Instagram or 'like' Figs and Flights on Facebook to stay in the loop.

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