The story
Sopa da pedra is the pride of Almeirim, a farming town near the Tagus in Portugal's Ribatejo region. Its legend is a local take on the stone soup folk tale told across Europe. A hungry friar, so the story goes, came begging in Almeirim and announced he would make soup from a stone. A curious farmer lent him a pot, and bit by bit the friar talked the household into adding fat, beans, potatoes, sausage and meat. When the pot was empty he pocketed the stone for next time. Almeirim's restaurants have turned the hearty bean soup into a reason to visit the town.
Rival claims
The stone-soup folk tale is told across Europe; the dish itself is a recognised specialty of Almeirim.
Also known as sopa de pedra, stone soup, sopa da pedra de Almeirim.
On the Meridish menu
Sopa da pedra (stone soup) was the soup course on menu No. 12 on October 12, 2026. Its clue in the game, which hints at the place without naming it:
Hearty bean, sausage and potato soup served with a stone in the bowl. Legend says a hungry friar tricked farmers here into a feast by 'cooking' a rock.
In Meridish, every dish is pinned to the town or city most widely credited with creating it. A guess within 25 km scores all 100 points. How scoring works.
Sources
Food history is often disputed. Think we've pinned it in the wrong place? Tell us at hello@meridish.com, ideally with a source.
