{"id":16669,"date":"2019-12-18T22:26:42","date_gmt":"2019-12-18T22:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/?p=16669"},"modified":"2019-12-23T14:01:48","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T14:01:48","slug":"top-15-things-to-eat-in-funchal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carnival.com\/awaywego\/travel\/europe\/top-15-things-to-eat-in-funchal","title":{"rendered":"Top 15 Things to Eat in Funchal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Portugal is well known for its port wine, but there are plenty of other delicacies to eat in this charming country. When taking a European cruise<\/a>, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to spend a day strolling through the historic town of Funchal<\/a>, where you can experience some of the best cuisine in all of Portugal. After all, it\u2019s the capital city of the Autonomous Region of Madeira (meaning the region has political and administrative freedom from other parts of Portugal).<\/p>\n

There are many things to do in Funchal<\/a>, from shopping for leather shoes and boots to watching artisans embroider fine luxury tablecloths. Ride cable cars, explore palaces, walk through botanical gardens and experience the famous Funchal snowless toboggan ride. After all the activity, take a break to refresh and fortify yourself. Here are 15 ideas of what to eat in Funchal.<\/p>\n

\"boats<\/p>\n

1. Picadinho<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for the best lunch in Funchal, try this simple, traditional Madeiran beef dish. Small cubes of beef are seasoned with garlic and pepper then fried. Picadinho is usually served family-style on a platter and shared by several people who use a toothpick or fork.<\/p>\n

2. Pastel de Nata <\/strong><\/p>\n

Of all the delicious things to eat in Funchal, you\u2019ll want to start with a breakfast of pastel de nata. The mini pastries are flaky and crispy, filled with a light egg custard and a small bit of lemon. Every Portuguese baker has their own proprietary recipe, but no matter where you find them, you\u2019ll become addicted to these sweet little Madeiran specialties.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

3. Sugar Cane Honey Cookies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Madeiran sugar cane honey cookies symbolize good memories. The simple cookie is made of wheat flour, eggs and honey. Every bakery has its specialty flavor, and the cookies can be customized with spices such as anise or fennel. If you bring them home as souvenirs and gifts<\/a>, make sure you purchase cookies that are pre-packaged and unopened to board your ship.<\/p>\n

4. Tropical Fruits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh fruit lovers will swoon over the abundance of mangoes, papayas, pomegranates, grapes, bananas and more at Funchal\u2019s Farmers Market. Try a juicy Funchal favorite, tabaibos (prickly pear), also called \u201cfigs of the devil,\u201d that come from a species of cactus.<\/p>\n

\"dragon<\/p>\n

5. Carne Vinha D\u2019Alhos<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another unique snack found in Funchal is a traditional Christmas dish that\u2019s available year-round. The dish is made with pork, white wine, garlic, bay leaves, salt and pepper that marinate for a couple of days. You\u2019ll find carne vinha d’alhos in the Funchal Farmers Market.<\/p>\n

6. Soups<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two Madeiran soups you shouldn\u2019t miss while in Funchal. Tomato and onion soup, along with a poached egg and bread, is a traditional Madeiran cuisine. Sopa de Trigo, otherwise known as wheat soup, is also a specialty of Funchal. It has a gummy, dense texture thanks to the ample amount of vegetables in the recipe.<\/p>\n

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7. Cozido \u00e0 Madeirense<\/strong><\/p>\n

If soup isn\u2019t your style, how about this famous Madeiran stew made of salted pork, sausage and vegetables. It\u2019s also typically served with couscous, though a round of wheat bread would be delicious, too.<\/p>\n

8. Espetada<\/strong><\/p>\n

This beef dish is grilled over charcoal then skewered on a metal or laurel stick. You\u2019ll find restaurants in Funchal with tables that have built-in grill structures in the middle to prepare the espetada. The dish typically comes with fried maize (chunks of cooked corn flour) and bolo do caco (bread).<\/p>\n

\"traditional<\/p>\n

9. Bolo do Caco<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is one wheat bread you\u2019ll love. It\u2019s flattened out with rounded edges and used with a melted garlic butter spread. Of course, it\u2019s also used for sandwiches with fillings such as steaks, ham, swordfish and yes, octopus. For a taste sensation, try bolo do caco made from sweet potatoes drizzled with the hot garlic butter.<\/p>\n

10. Bife de Atum (Tuna Steak)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuna is extremely popular in Funchal \u2014 and all around Madeira \u2014 because it\u2019s an abundant species in the surrounding seas. It\u2019s eaten in steak form. Try tuna steak and fried maize, which is corn flour cooked and then cut into small cubes.<\/p>\n

\"tuna<\/p>\n

11. Black Scabbard fish<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty of fish in Funchal, including the common espada (sword) black scabbard fish. It\u2019s very tasty when prepared with passion fruit and banana sauce, a Madeiran specialty.<\/p>\n

12. Passion Fruit Pudding<\/strong><\/p>\n

Passion fruit is a Madeiran favorite, and it comes in various species for all types of dishes. The sweet and aromatic Passiflora edulis is used for desserts and drinks. Try the pudding made with passion fruit pulp, jelly, condensed milk and cream.<\/p>\n

13. Cracas<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you’re a seafood fanatic, you\u2019ll want to try this odd little Funchal delicacy. Cracas are calcareous formations found on the rocks of the coastline. They\u2019re harvested through hammering them off the rocks. They have a \u201csea\u201d flavor, so if you like seafood you’ll have to try this fine snack to experience how delicious it tastes.<\/p>\n

14. Port Wine<\/strong><\/p>\n

You can\u2019t dine in Funchal without tasting the famed port wines of Madeira. A bottle of port is one of the very best things to buy in Funchal and take back with you for memories or gifts. Carnival allows you to bring one 750 ml bottle per adult if you\u2019re over 21 years of age, but check with the cruise staff just to make sure.<\/p>\n

\"port<\/p>\n

15. Wine and Garlic Pork<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cubes of pork marinated in white wine, garlic cloves, vinegar, bay leaves and pepper are cooked and served as a sandwich. Though it\u2019s a Christmas classic, you\u2019ll find it in Funchal all year round.<\/p>\n

In addition to touring the gastronomical delights found in Funchal, you\u2019ll be able to explore Portugal\u2019s other wonders, as well. A Carnival cruise can bring you to the cosmopolitan city of Lisbon<\/a>, the historic seaport of Leix\u00f5es<\/a> (Porto) and the volcanic marvel of Ponta Delgada<\/a> (Azores). Just be sure to enjoy every inch of Funchal\u2019s fairytale setting before you embark on the next phase of your European cruise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Portugal is well known for its port wine, but there are plenty of other delicacies to eat in this charming … read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":16680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","category-travel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTop 15 Things to Eat in Funchal | Carnival Cruise Line<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On a cruise to Funchal, you can experience some of the best cuisine in all of Portugal. 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