Provincetown Portuguese Bakery: 90 Years of Delicious

One my favorite places to visit in Provincetown is the Portuguese Bakery at 299 Commercial Street. It has delicious, traditional Portuguese food and an interesting history.       Before becoming a mecca for artists and gay partiers, Provincetown was a bustling fishing community. Portuguese fishermen began immigrating here around 1900 and brought with them their language, customs, faith, and culinary traditions, all of which became woven into the fabric of Provincetown life.       Opened around 1900, the bakery initially sold just bread and staples to working families and fisherman going out to sea. It was established as the Portuguese Bakery by Antonio Brito in 1936 and has been in business for 90 years, run by a a succession of Portuguese families. The business became known for authentic Portuguese breads and pastries.   Malassadas, a favorite Portuguese fry dough is one of the most popular pasteries, fried up for all to see in the front window of the shop. The recipe has been passed down through the generations.  “Mal assada “ means “undercooked” in Portuguese, which refers to the fried sweet’s golden-brown exterior that gives way to a soft, doughy inside.   In addition to malassadas, favorites include pasteis de nata, Portuguese custard tarts; sweet bread; Bolas de Berlim; almond pastries; and numerous regional specialties inspired by recipes from Portugal and the Azores.   Next time you are in Provincetown, MA, make sure you make a stop in the Portuguese Bakery. You won’t regret it!