Funchal

Food

Walking the levadas

Exploring Madeira

Madeira’s version of ‘Tea at the Ritz’ is ‘Afternoon Tea at Reid’s Palace’. Overlooking the seafront and tropical gardens with the Grand Piano playing in the background is a marvellous way of unwinding on an afternoon. Served from 3-5.30 pm it is well worth the 28E. A truly British tradition, afternoon tea became a fashionable European traditional social event in the 1840’s. Here I am enjoying delicious sandwiches and buttered scones ….

To view his collection of stamps
And he said as he hastened to put out the cat,
The wine, his cigar and the lamps:
"Have some Madeira, m'Dear!”

Song from Flanders and Swan

My first opportunity of tasting Madeiran cake was during the Thomson welcome party. Rich in taste, the cake which can easily be bought, reminded me of Christmas cake. Named bolo do mel or honey cake: it is traditionally made at Christmas but consumed all year. Ironically honey is not part of the ingredients. An ancient tradition from Madeira’s sugar cane industry, hot molasses is added to the cake before it is cooked. It was served with a sweet Madeiran liquer. The many liqueurs are made from passion fruit, cherries or sweet chestnuts.

If seafood’s your thing, then this cuisine is waiting for you especially lining Funchal’s yacht marina. A good accompaniment is the local Madeiran wine which is cheaper and just as good as imported varieties. Fish dishes include prawns, shrimps, swordfish, bream, red mullet, tuna, paella etc. Crabs and lobsters can be selected live from the tank! Cheaper prices can be found in the old town.

Wine connoisseurs will enjoy a visit to St Francis wine lodge. There are 4 basic Madeiran wines depending on the grape variety and altitude grown. The amber coloured dry Sercial, the meium dry Verdelho, the nutty rich Bual and the dark mellow Malmsey. Lower level grapes taste sweeter as the sun makes their sugars more concentrated.