Join Maria for a delightful open-air picnic at the breathtaking Sete Cidades lake viewpoint and garden. Surrounded by lush nature, you'll take in stunning views of the lake from the mountainside, nestled among vibrant trees, flowers, and botanical gardens. Sete Cidades lake is a 45-min drive from downtown Ponta Delgada.
Enjoy a short, scenic hike as you explore the beauty of the volcanic landscape and dramatic coastline, before settling at a peaceful picnic table to begin your experience. Picnicking is a beloved tradition in Azorean culture, and Maria is excited to share this local custom with you.
Your picnic will feature a delicious spread of fresh, locally sourced ingredients - chorizo balls, assorted salads with local cheese and jams, sandwiches, pork pâté, and traditional Azorean desserts such as milk and bean pudding, along with seasonal fresh fruit. Vegan and gluten-free picnic options are also available upon request.
On days Maria is unavailable, her equally wonderful team, Filipa and Débora, will host your experience. The cost of wine is included in your experience.
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.
Wine: 2 glasses of wine per personMilk puddingFresh fruitPork pâtéSandwichesCheese plateFresh saladChorizo ballsMaria 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.
