Madeira

Madeira the beautiful Atlantic island which belongs to portugal and has long been famous for its Madeira wine, a fortified wine which has appealed to British palates over the centuries and also has many uses in cookery besides being associated with madeira cake.

The food of the island has several interesting features, not least of which is the predominance in the fish market of tuna and black scabbard fish, Aphanopus carbo. It is the basis of several particularly good fish dishes.

A balmy climate ensures a plentiful supply of fruits and vegetables, remarked upon by many famous voyagers (e.g. Charles Darwin aboard HMS Beagle) who called at the island en route for more distant destinations. This climate is conducive to the cultivation of maize, and the cuisine of the island, especially in some of the rural areas, includes interesting survivals of breads and dishes made with maize.