Travel inland from the port in Ponta Delgada and discover the culture through food, in this Azorean cooking class in a local home, in Fenais da Luz. We recommend all cruise travelers this Ponta Delgada Excursion, for a true and authentic taste of local cuisine. Maria is excited to share her culture through food in this authentic Azorean cooking class in Ponta Delgade. After a welcome drink, snack and tour of Maria’s garden and home, start your cooking class. Your experience can either be hands on or a demonstration, so please note which you would prefer when making your booking. During your cooking class learn how to make a traditional Azorean meal featuring seasonal ingredients. You will learn how to make a soup such as a traditional fish soup, followed by two main dishes of a fish and meat dish. Then end your experience learning to make a dessert like rice pudding or passion fruit mousse (featuring passion fruit from Maria’s garden when in season!).
Maria’s recipes have been passed down through her mom and grandmother and Maria is passionate about showcasing her family and island’s culinary history with guests. After cooking, sit down together to enjoy your traditional Azorean family-style meal, which will be served either at the grape-vine covered terrace, in summer months, or at Maria’s dining table in colder months. End your meal with a selection of coffee, tea and homemade liqueurs or wine. If there is a specific dish you want to learn to make, like octopus, please note this during your booking. Maria will be happy to accommodate your requests!
Your Ponta Delgada Shore Excursion includes a hands-on cooking class, a glass of local alcohol and pick-up and drop off from Ponta Delgada cruise terminal.
On days Maria is unavailable, her equally wonderful team, Deborah and Andreia, will host 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.
SoupA fish and meat main dish Rice pudding or passion fruit mousseCoffee or tea Homemade liqueurs or wineMaria 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. After studying social work and practicing family therapy for years in Portugal, Maria moved back to the Azores to find a more peaceful life that connected her with her lifelong passion of food. She bought house on a small plot of land with an orchard where she grows figs, apples, pears, almonds, oranges and more. Living in the subtropical climate of the Azores, Maria also is able to grow a variety of tropical fruits including papaya, guava and lychee. Maria is passionate about meeting and learning from new people and is excited to invite people from around the world into her home to enjoy fresh, seasonal Azorean cooking.
