Post by João

AFTER OUR FIVE-YEAR GLORIOUS JOURNEY came to a screeching halt in 2020, we figured it was time to turn inside.

We've helped scores Discover and Feel the Azores, a driving vision for the MINUVIDA AZORES operation of lodging, outdoors experiences and retreats since 2015. But all along we wondered if that was all we were doing or could do. We started noticing that what people really need, now more than ever, is to turn inside, awaken their consciousness. Elevate.

So, after many in-confinement stream of consciousness sessions, we ultimately settled on a new vision (the why) and tweaked our mission (the what and how). We evolved our look and are set on changing travel. (We kind of had plenty of time to do all this...)​

Ask any Azorean their favorite food and they are likely to reply, "Chicharros!" These are fried horse mackerel, best eaten whole, and yes even the heads! Ask for these with molho de vilão (villain sauce) along with a bottle of Quinta da Jardinete, a beautiful Azorean red wine, made locally in São Miguel less than 10 minutes from us and where we lead small group tours and tastings.

After your afternoon hike with us in Sete Cidades head to Restaurant o Silva, where you can always find fresh cracas, or giant barnacles. Boiled in their shells, enjoying these reminds us of eating oysters in Boston. But here you have more fun digging them out of their chalk homes with your hook :-) The true and exquisite taste of the sea!

The bounty of the sea and the gifts of the land, enhanced by freshness, make for a rich and varied local cuisine – not to mention the endless variety of fruit and decadent sweets. 

For your entrée you should always order the whole grilled fish (just ask what’s fresh). One of our favorite places to enjoy grilled fish is Tuká Tulá, a casual beach-side restaurant where you can enjoy your meal on Santa Bárbara beach. Our favorites are boca negra (blue mouth rockfish), dourada (seabream), and veja (parrotfish).

Of course if you prefer meat you can opt for the local bifana, a marinated pork cutlet. Or enjoy a steak, traditionally served with a fried egg on top.

Don’t pass up dessert. Enjoy some house made queijada de feijão, or bean custard pastries. These are an ideal complement to your post-meal espresso -- so relax, enjoy, and savor the Azorean lifestyle!

Our cozido hike allows you to really feel the volcano and connect with nature. We start an easy hike that can be tailored to individual ability and ends at the volcanic vent where we pull out the pot of local meats and veggies that have been slow cooking in their juices for almost 6 hours. We then enjoy an outdoor gourmet picnic meal while enjoying the flavors of the volcano!