A former Portuguese diplomat has settled in Japan and is now a new type of ambassador -- one for his country's cuisine.
Eduardo Mira Batista, 50, says his restaurant, Portugalia, which opened in July in Osaka's busy Kita Ward, is the first to offer authentic Portuguese cooking in the Kansai region.
On a rainy day late last month, women crowded the restaurant, which seats about 50, features an entrance done in red and whitewashed walls that evoke a seaside village. Bottles of beer and white wine are prominently displayed, together with plates of dried cod croquettes and stewed pork innards.