Temptations from the "Star Mountains

Raul Rodrigues laughs. "I couldn't work the booth with our pastéis de nata." His blue eyes wandering down, he pats his belly. "Then I would eat way too many of the cupcakes."

Raul Rodrigues and his six colleagues are representing Portugal at International Green Week. In Hall 7.2b, the companies D.R.A. - Produtos Regionais LDA and Damar occupy two stands: coffee and the custard-filled puff pastry tarts Pastéis de Nata can be found on one side, cheese specialties, Serrano ham, rolls and wine on the other. Beer tent sets are set up between the stalls, creating a small bistro - or an obstacle course for Raul Rodrigues so he can't get to the desserts so easily.

Hearty treats and good wine to go with them

The temptations are great at his booth, too, though. "I'm a big cheese fan," admits Rodrigues, who is originally from Switzerland. The traditional products around him almost all come from the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's "star mountains." The sheep cheese "Queijo de Ovelha e Cabra Curado" matures for twelve months. It is an intense and spicy cheese, buttery with a crumbly texture, ideal for lovers of strong flavors and for lactose-restricted diets. It goes well with a glass of the red wine "Entre Serras", for example. The vines of the wines in this line grow at an impressive altitude of between 320 and 550 meters on the slopes of Serra da Estrela.

The companies D.R.A. and Damar are located in Fundao. It's also where Raul Rodrigues lives when he's ever at home. "I spend about 250 days a year traveling to trade shows," he reveals. With traditional products, he and his colleagues travel to France, Spain and Italy, as well as across Portugal. Rodrigues particularly likes the Green Week in Berlin, especially because of the opening hours. "In Portugal, fairs usually go until 10 p.m. at night. It's nice to finish work at 6 p.m., too," he admits. After all, that's also four hours less in which he is "exposed" to the appetizingly fragrant Pastéis de Nata.

Trade show visitors will find Raul Rodrigues and the Portuguese delicacies in Hall 7.2b at Stand 119.