We remember this dish as a very special Christmas dinner on Madeira island. It is already a few years back, we had booked very spontaneously. Arriving on the 24th of December, without any restaurant reservation for the holidays. Just following our noses at Christmas day we ended up in a small fisherman bar near to Maddalena do Mar. The tiny bar was packed. We were the only tourists. There was no menu, and apparently only one single dish. “Christmas dinner”, they told us.

Because understanding was difficult they took me into the kitchen and the chef – with bright eyes – held a pan and a fork under my nose. It was a duel of scents! Wine, onions and lots of garlic – I can’t imagine the Portuguese cuisine without it. In this dish, which is traditionally cooked for Christmas, all of this is combined with marinated pork and the wonderful aroma of citrus fruits… I tried and loved it. Our hosts were happy: “Feliz Natal!”

But of course Carne vinho e alhos is quite excellent all year round. Instead of toasted bread as in the recipe, even Bolo de Caco, the typical bread of Madeira, fits perfectly. If you like it slightly rustic you can also use belly bacon instead of the fillets of pork.