THE ISLANDS OF THE AZORES
Due to its volcanic nature, Azorean cuisine is rich and varied, with plenty of fish dishes, seafood, meat and cheese.
The famous verdelho wines of the islands of Pico and Graciosa (once the table wines of the Czars of Russia) and locally-grown pineapples form a characteristic base for much of the regional cooking.
Azores specialities include a spicy beef casserole called Alcatra à moda da Terceira and a tasty serving of sausage with yams known as linguiça com inhames.
Not to be missed is the unique cozido nas caldeiras das furnas, a traditional meal of meat and vegetables cooked in the hot springs of Furnas, a spa town on the east side of São Miguel Island. The food is slowly cooked by steam ejected from the sulphurous springs after the pots are lowered into the ground.
Famous for their dairy products, the islands offer a wide variety of cheeses to satisfy all tastes. Most notable is queijo da ilha, much appreciated on the mainland and considered the best of its kind in the region. Cured at a constant temperature for many months, the cheese is characteristic for its strong aroma and sharp flavour.