Cooking with Gas

Today's forecast promises sunny intervals and light breezes. At least it isn't raining and the gale is quite balmy. A smart march across the city to the market delivers us to a full scale riot of colours and aromas.
We start by heading through to the fish market, resisting the temptation to buy a few feet of espada, and engage in negotiations regarding a slice or two of tuna. Tonight's dish of the day is to be Salad Nicoise. We have so far failed to find a Portuguese translation.
Back in the veg section most of the key ingredients are readily available but there is one absentee. A thorough search of the market and the smart Pingo Doce supermercardo fails to deliver fresh green beans. Imagine Salad Nicoise without green beans. Like Ant without Dec or Boris without scandal. Eventually we find them in the frozen goods section.

One of the lunch offers that abound in downtown Funchal is Bolo de Caco. A sort of Madeiran oven bottom cake split and filled with ham, cheese and vegetables that are not mushy peas. We arm ourselves with the raw ingredients and adjourn to base. Lunch is splendid.
  
Having sorted out feeding the body we move on to the intellect. Our midget guide to Madeira has a couple of pages of useful phrases but sadly does not provide the Portuguese translation of "My postillion has been struck by lightning" but with one bound we are free. Who would have guessed that the Portuguese for walking stick is 'bengala'.
We observe a long standing tradition and go out for a Friday night bevvy. An administrative oversight means that an extra shopping trip is required in order to get olives. The Mercearia Dona Mécia is a sunlit but slightly draughty courtyard with cheery service and cold bear.
Supper is fabulous. 

Comments

  1. chouxdle21 January 2022 at 19:01

    Who would have guessed that the Portuguese for walking stick is 'bengala'
    We're a supportive lot. Would've thought one'd have guessed that by now.

    Is it absolutely imperative that one keeps posting photos of that unkaalchured phish?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave W23 January 2022 at 00:39

      Point taken. Will only use photos if essential to the narrative.

      Delete
  2. knownunknown23 January 2022 at 00:21

    Colombian dragon fruit I did not expect to see on this island. Interesting fruit stand this !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dave W23 January 2022 at 00:38

      At some future point there will be one of our fruit & veg quizzes.

      Delete

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