Azores, famous not only for its breathtaking landscapes and trekking, but also for its typical and local foods, come and read what to eat and where.
The Portuguese archipelago of Azores it is not only a discovery from a naturalistic point of view, but it can also be a pleasant food and wine surprise if during the trip you allow yourself to be fully immersed in the cuisine, flavors and smells of these places.
It must be said that the kitchen reflects that typical Portuguese, simple and at the same time tasty, but the local specialties and typical products, preferably served stewed, are not lacking at all.
The most common and oldest dish is the soups ("Caldo de peixe", the classic fish soup, the "Caldo verde", cabbage and potato soup and the "sopa do Spirito Santo”, A stew of meat and vegetables), as well as cod present in over 300 recipes. Being from the islands, fish is certainly the master also because the prices of the dishes are truly accessible to all: mainly fried or grilled, you will find all the main Atlantic species such as grouper, tuna, swordfish, barracuda and the octopus (the one served at restaurant da Rosa in Santa Cruz on the island of Flores).
Very common among molluscs are the the step (similar to local limpets) which are torn directly from the rocks and then fried or eaten raw. You can find them on the menus of almost all the clubs of the various islands or served at the numerous local festivals that usually take place between July and August.
Thanks to the numerous cattle farms, meat is certainly not lacking. Excellent grilled accompanied by sauces often a little spicy and rich in garlic (generically called guisado), you can taste it without being disappointed by Marcelino's, a steak house with a refined atmosphere in the center of Hangra, Terceira. Do not miss the dry sausage, linguica, which is always combined with various types of potatoes.
In Horta, on the island of Faial, the main restaurants are located along the harbor. I recommend booking a table early at the Genuine restaurant: the owner was a Portuguese sailor who traveled alone for some time with his sailboat, consequently the whole place, which is set up with souvenirs and travel memories, talks about him and his exploits and the dishes that you can taste are excellent. If you can't find a free table, the restaurant O Arvore it can be a valid alternative.
Also in Horta resides the Cafe Peter, a real institution of the place. The restaurant, which has always been owned by a single family, has been a meeting place since the early twentieth century for the commanders of the ships that landed in Faial. Here the crews were sure they could count on the owner Henrique for any need and in return they donated flags, photos, dedications and thanks that were hung on the walls of the room. The family has always kept these relics, setting up a small museum inside the room. Today entering the bar one feels overwhelmed by all these memories. It is really worth a visit while enjoying one of its famous gin and tonics.
If we move to Sao Miguel, the largest island of the archipelago, we absolutely cannot miss the appointment with the tasting of the "cozido das furnas" served by Tony's a Furnas. It is a dish composed of various types of meat (chicken, beef, pork and lamb accompanied by various vegetables) cooked in large pots stuck in holes covered with earth. The fumaroles that rise from the ground cook the ingredients naturally for 5 hours so that at noon you can enjoy what is considered the typical dish par excellence. The only negative note is the slight aftertaste of sulfur that inevitably accompanies the dish.
Thanks to its climate, Sao Miguel it is also famous for pineapple cultivation which are as delicious as the tropical ones and for the tea plantations (Gorreana), the only ones in Europe.
The island of Pico, on the other hand, is famous for its wine, produced with difficulty and obstinacy by local winemakers on the slopes of the Pico volcano, a terrain that is difficult and inhospitable at first sight. The results of these efforts are Verdelho, Terras de lava and Currao Atlantis all excellent white wines, while Basalt is one of the most popular reds.
In short, you just have to book and enjoy your meal!
