Blessed with lush greenery, black beaches, natural volcanic pools and Mediterranean climates year-round, many may not know that the Portuguese island of Madeira is also home to some of Europe’s most diverse, mouth-watering cuisine. Located a stone’s throw away from Porto Santo and the Desertas Islands, you’ll soon find that Madeira is the ultimate paradise for foodies. So, read on to find out what 5 gastronomic experiences you can expect to indulge on during our Marvels of Madeira Walk.
After exploring the flower-lined Levada do Furado, a verdant paradise with tumbling waterfalls, flittering firecrest and tame finches, you’ll descend into Santo da Serra’s vibrant square. It’s here, in this lively wood-smoked market, where you can try the traditional Portuguese speciality, ‘Espetada’.
The word ‘Espetada’ is a Portuguese term used for the traditional technique of cooking food on wooden skewers, and in Madeira, they cook their meat and fish on laurel twigs! Hailed as a local delicacy, vendors typically cook al fresco, and marinate the beef (either tenderloin, sirloin, or short loin) in salt, crushed garlic and bay (laurel) leaves to enhance the rich flavours. The dish is usually served with local flatbread ‘bolo do caco’ and grilled cornmeal ‘milho frito’. You may find that Espetada is prepared in numerous restaurants across Madeira, but if you’re looking for a nice local atmosphere, we’d recommend heading to Santo da Serra.
On our Marvels of Maderia Walk, your interest-packed itinerary leads you to the picturesque, sleepy fishing village of Porto da Cruz. Its name is derived from the word “cross” (cruz) thanks to the worldwide explorers who came to cross the ancient port. Aside from a selection of charming bistros and residential dazzling white houses draped in red roses, the village is also home to an ancient working rum distillery, that you can visit after your peaceful circular walk to Sao Jorge.
The North Mills Distillery was built back in 1927 and still has ancient steam engines in operation to this day. Visitors to this internationally acclaimed rum distillery can enjoy a tour of the grounds where you’ll be shown each stage of the rum production. The tour ends with a sugarcane rum tasting. Some tours may offer one of the local’s favourite drinks, Poncha, in their Rum House. This drink is typically made with aguardente de cana (distilled alcohol made from sugar cane juice) and honey, with a choice of lemon juice or orange juice to top off the delicious cocktail.
During our Marvels of Maderia Walk, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the colourful stalls of the Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal. Built in the 1940s by architect, Edmundo Tavares, you’ll notice the art deco market is adorned with beautiful azulejos (Portuguese hand-painted tiles) brought in from the mainland.
Selling everything from small, sweet bananas, guavas, custard apples and dragon fruit to vibrant prickly pears, pitangas (Brazilian cherry) and Delicious Fruit (Monstera delicious), you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to making a scrumptious fruit salad – the perfect remedy after walking in Madeira’s balmy temperatures.
Madeira is well-known for its fresh, exotic seafood, with vendors around the coast displaying their catch of the day proudly on stone benches. You’ll come across fish seen in few other places across the world, like Swordfish, charuteiros (greater amberjacks), bodião (parrotfish), peixe-porco (grey triggerfish) and one of their favourite delicacies, espada (Black Scabbard fish) caught off the island’s south coast. One of the main places where you’ll find fishermen dedicating themselves to their catch is in Câmara de Lobos in Funchal, so we’d recommend heading here to eat in one of the city’s delightful squares restaurants, such as the Casa Da Penha Funchal, or the long-standing Casa Velha Restaurant.
Black Scabbard fish and banana is a popular staple and delicacy in Madeirense cuisine, and a must-try when you’re on a walking holiday in Madeira. And don’t worry, the mouth-watering flavour and texture make up for its appearance. The succulent fillet of black scabbard fish is simply prepared by being dipped in flour and eggs, fried in a pan of local olive oil and sprinkled with parsley. Adding sea salt, lemon juice, pepper and garlic to enhance the flavour further, this delicacy normally comes with boiled potatoes and freshly made tomato salads.
On this walking trip, you’ll make a transfer to Boa Morte and head up to the Levada do Norte, which takes you through hushed pine forests and eucalyptus trees, where the paths are lined with pink belladonna flowers. Once you pass the poisos (terraced farming fields) and pretty villages, you’ll arrive at Cabo Girão, the highest cliff in Europe that has a fantastic viewpoint overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Câmara de Lobos and Funchal.
If you’d like to take your time and soak up the scenery, there’s a wonderful restaurant nearby, the Atlântico, which offers an exquisite à-la carte menu and a great selection of sweet and dry Madeiran wines, all while basking in the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll see it’s very common in Madeira for locals to wash down their meals with a glass of Madeiran fortified wine and a shot of bica (espresso). If you’re looking to enjoy a true taste of Maderia, keep an eye out for these popular bottles: verdelho, Cossart Gordon sercial, bual and malmsey.
If this has inspired you to look into a gastronomic walking experience on the tropical island of Madeira, take a look at our brilliant itinerary here.
