Host offerings
Maria grew up in the Azores in a small village of 10,000 people. Her parents were farmers, as were her grandparents who had a large farm that exported produce from garlic to oranges to watermelon to Portugal. Maria grew up picnicing with her parents, one of her favorite activities and memories from childhood, and she is excited to share this tradition with guests to help them experience Azorean hospitality and culinary traditions. Maria now lives on a small plot of land with an orchard where she grows figs, apples, pears, almonds, and oranges, in addition to tropical fruits including papaya, guava and lychee. She moved back to the Azores after studying social work and practicing family therapy for years in Portugal, to reconnect with her with lifelong passion for food. Maria is passionate about meeting and learning from new people and is excited to invite people from around the world to enjoy fresh, seasonal Azorean cooking and picnic traditions.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 20 guests) Join Maria at the Ponta do Sossego viewpoint and garden for a barbecue picnic in the open air. Enjoy stunning ocean views from the mountainside gardens while you grill and share a Azorean meal together. You will be surrounded by nature - beautiful trees, plants, flowers and botanical gardens. Enjoy a short hike and discover the impressive views of the volcanic mountains and the coast, before sitting down at the picnic table to begin your experience.
Barbecuing is a common practice in Azorean culture and Maria is excited to share it with you. She will be using fresh produce that you will grill together on an outdoor barbecue before sitting down to share the meal you helped prepare. Snack on appetizers such as local cheese and pork pate while your fish and meat are cooking. Then sit down at the bench to enjoy a typical Azorean barbecue menu that might include dishes such as grilled fish, meat, potatoes with red pepper and a seasonal salad. You will end your meal with a homemade dessert and fresh fruit.
Notes: On days Maria is unavailable, her equally wonderful team, Filipa and Débora, will host your experience. Please note that if you're vegetarian, you will grill vegetables instead of fish and meat. Please let Maria know while booking the experience online. Also, 2 glasses of wine per person is included in the cost of this experience.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f9c69f43668>
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | Not offered | $75 | $75 |
| Alcohol | $0 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:30pm - 02:30pm | 6:00pm - 08:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
