Madeira makes its own beer: Coral. Don`t miss it!
Try a Nikita if you like the idea of mixing beer, white wine and ice cream. Quit unusual and very tasty.
Poncha, is a must. Made of aguardente (the local fire water made from sugar canes) and fresh squeezed lemon or orange and honey, its a favourite amongst locals and visitors. If you are in Madeira and have a cold, I can guarantee you the locals will advice you to take a Poncha as the best cure.
Ginja is another Madeiran speciality, made from cherries, is a pleasant and sweet drink presented mostly as an aperitif.
And, Never to be missed the famous Madeira Wine.
February 17th, 2007
Food in Madeira is a “piece of heaven”. There are several very good restaurants with the traditional Madeira and Portuguese dishes.
It is easy to eat well and for very cheap in local restaurants, eating delicious local food and drinking tasty high quality Portuguese wine (local or from the main land). In Portugal you won’t need to order side dishes, weather you order fish or meat, it is always served with rice, salad, vegetables, boiled potatoes, chips, the traditional deep-fried cubes of Maize, depending on your taste. Going out for meal with wine, desert and an espresso coffee (very common to drink after a meal by the Portuguese), can cost you as little as 20 euros (£13) for two people.
If you want to cook yourself, you have plenty of fresh seafood, fish, meat, vegetables, and fruit to choose from and you will find several recipe books translated into English.
Regional dishes include Espada (fresh black scabbard fish), Bife de Atum and Milho Frito (tuna steak and fried maize), Lulas (squid), Caldeirada (fish soup) and of course the more of a thousand ways of Bacalhau (salted dried cod fish).
Try also Sopa de Tomate (tomato and onion soup), Espetada (meat on a spit), Carne de Vinho e Alhos (pickled pork in wine and garlic), Bolo do Caco (regional bread) and a slice of Bolo de Mel (dark honey cake) for desert.
There is plenty of quality and variety of fruit. Due to the subtropical climate, you`ll find wild growing fruit such as bananas, avocado, pear and passion fruit.
There are more than enough dishes to choose from. Seafood and fish, but also various fresh meat and chicken. The same kind of fish or meat is prepared in many various ways.
February 17th, 2007