Portuguese Pastries - Pastel de Nata

The Pastéis de Belém were mentioned by The Guardian as the 15th most tasty delicacy in the world. During medieval times, to stiffen their habits, nuns used copious egg whites. To use up the leftover egg yolks, they devised yolk-based recipes. In the 1800s, when the clergy and workers were expelled during the liberal revolution and convents and monasteries were shut down, an enterprising former monastery employee survived by making and selling egg-based tarts to the nearby general store. These days, only three people are privy to the custard recipe and, although versions of these tarts are reproduced throughout Portugal and the world, one vital secret ingredient is said to hold it apart from the others. We are located at Dufferin and Eglinton and we are proud to serve the greater Toronto Area!