Fish, meat, tropical fruit, sweets, bolo do caco bread, fresh vegetables and Madeira wine, make up the island’s varied food offer.
Madeira’s cuisine has always been delicious. Its secret lies in a wide variety of fresh ingredients from the volcanic landscape on this archipelago, with abundant water and a temperate climate. From fish, meat, tropical fruit, sweets and traditional bolo do caco bread to nutritious vegetables; no one can resist the taste of Madeira cuisine.
If you decide to visit the island, you have to try their legendary tomato and onion soup; fried tuna steaks with corn; swordfish with banana; grilled corn and salad; or even their Christmas delicacy of beef, wine and garlic – finishing everything off with a passion fruit pudding.
Michelin restaurant
Food lovers will find paradise in the two-star
Michelin restaurant Il Gallo d’Oro, located in the five-star hotel The Cliff Bay, in Funchal.
Benoît Sinthon, the restaurant’s
head chef, has the best possible conditions in Madeira to hone his craft:
classic techniques from French cuisine, smooth and full of flavour, combined
with local fresh ingredients from land and sea.
Taste, seasonality and freshness are his bywords, and fresh produce from the island of Madeira plays a key role in his cuisine, combined with
high-quality ingredients from regions in the Iberian Peninsula. Edible flowers, vegetables, fish, herbs, fruit, meat, sweets, flavour, innovation, presentation and refinement are some of the components of a tasting menu that aims to bring diners a happy and unique experience.
Madeira fruit
Madeira fruit is characterised by being both unique and exotic. Thanks to its subtropical climate and the island’s fertile soil, there are numerous varieties of fruit that fill tables and market stalls with colour and flavour.
In Madeira, fruit is used creatively, either in traditional dishes, salads (avocado), ice cream (pitanga or tabaibo), juice (mango and passion fruit), sweets (guava, grape or loquat), roasted (chestnuts) or as decorations at Christmas.
Whatever the season, there are fruits for every taste. In autumn and winter, make sure to try the sweet taste of sugar-apples or roasted chestnuts sold in the streets. There is even a party in Curral das Freiras dedicated entirely to the fruit. Avocados are also common at this time of year, as are oranges, mangoes and tangerines. Guava and quinces are used to make sweets and jam.
In spring and summer, the star of the season is passion fruit in all its varieties, which can be found in the iconic Lavradores Market. Located in the old town of Funchal, this market is the best place to discover and try most of the regional fruits, such as passion fruit, banana, pineapple, etc.
This is when apples come into season, and the Ponta do Pargo variety stands out in particular, with their unique aroma. There’s also another fruit in Madeira that sparks a lot of curiosity among visitors as a result of its exotic appearance – the tabaibo.
Cherries are plentiful in Câmara de Lobos, or more specifically around Jardim da Serra. Although pitangas are originally from the Americas, they can be found in abundance on the island and can be eaten without any preparation. Madeira blueberries are known for their excellent antioxidant properties.
The end of August/beginning of September marks the harvest season, and this is when the Wine Festival is held. Madeira grapes are mainly used to produce Madeira wine, but it also possible to find edible varieties.
Porto Santo is another paradise when it comes to summer fruits, including figs, grapes, watermelons and melons that are so good that they are worth a visit to the golden island.
Another of the most iconic fruits from the island is the Madeira banana. As the regional saying goes, “it’s small but good!” and the best thing is that it can be enjoyed all year round.
Madeira wine
Much of the island’s identity comes from another fruit, the grape, which is
used to produce Madeira wine. One of
the leading wine producers is the Madeira Wine Company, which produces brands
such as Blandy’s, Cossart Gordon, Leacock’s & Miles, all belonging to the
Blandy family.
In the past, due to its strategic position in the Atlantic, Madeira was an
important stopping point for ships en route between Europe, Africa and America.
These trips transported products like Madeira wine.
Trade with the United Kingdom brought many Britons to the island, including John Blandy, the founder of the company, who arrived here in 1808. Blandy’s Wine Lodge lies in a convent that is around 200 years old and can be found in the centre of Funchal. Visits to the wine cellar are possible, and of course, you can try the wine!
