The Açores are a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean that are a part of Portugal, and there are many delicious foods that are produced locally. They grow pineapples and tea on the island of São Miguel, and they do not have to use any pesticides during the farming process. On the island of São Miguel, there are twice as many cows as people, so the milk and cheese are always very fresh!
On Friday, we went to Furnas, a town known for its hot springs that are the result of volcanic activity. The traditional dish in this area is called cozido, which literally translates to “cooked" in English. In the dish, there are many root vegetables, such as local yam, potatoes and carrots, and greens like cabbage and kale. There are also a variety of meats including two types of chouriço or sausage, chicken, beef and pork.
We had fun eating whatever we happened to pick up on our fork because it was like digging into a mystery stew! I enjoyed how the flavors were so strong after several hours of cooking. All of the meats and vegetables were very tender. It was great to share this new food and experience with my family!
