An Edible Voyage

 August 2019 For a relaxed evening with a buzzy vibe, look no further than Ta Gente.   Delicious sharing plates, expertly crafted cocktails and a mind-boggling gin selection awaits at this cosy but cool bar restaurant, with it’s industrial, arty feel.   Sink in to the sofas in a dimly lit corner for a pre-dinner tipple, or nab yourself a table and get sharing! Find it on Rua Manual Ignacio Correia in Ponta Delgada.

 August 2019 Being so close to the sea at all times on Sao Miguel, you will no doubt have cravings for fresh fish and seafood at some point.   At Gastronomo, an atmospheric local’s restaurant 20 minutes walk along the sea front from Ponta Delgada centre, the fish that is cooked is up to you.   You discuss with the waiter the kind of fish you’re after and they will bring a selection to your table.   Once you’ve made your choice, it’s taken to the chef to whip up a feast. Find Gastronomo on Rua da Boa Nova, less than a mile east of Ponta Delgada’s centre.

 August 2019 Comur is somewhat of an institution in Portugal, and the Azores aren’t left out, with Ponta Delgada having it’s own branch.   This shop sells nothing but tinned fish, colourful cans filling the walls, floor to ceiling.   The most succulent tuna is sold in golden tins that look just like a solid bar of gold, and sardine cans are available with individual designs for each year of the last century, marking an event that was celebrated that year.   Whether you like fish or not, this unusually and intriguingly designed shop should not be missed. Find it on Rua do Melo in Ponta Delgada.

 August 2019 INTZ 48 is one of those places which manages to do lots of things well.   Out back, they roast their own coffee to be enjoyed as part of a full range of espresso based and filter coffees, or as bags to be taken home, and they have a tempting array of cakes, pastries and tarts.   It was, however, the ice lolly counter that drew me back time and time again.   Fruits and herbs combined in to colourful, refreshing lollies – think pineapple and mint, strawberry, and even sweet tomato and basil.   For the more decadent, there are ice cream lollies and vats of molten milk, white and dark chocolate which can be drizzled over the lollies, instantly freezing to give a thick, smooth and luscious coating that satisfyingly cracks as you take a bite. Find it on Rua Hintze Ribeiro, one of the maze of pretty, cobbled streets in Ponta Delgada.