24th Mar 2009

Welcome :: Portugal

Xôpana uses local ingredients with an oriental twist
Xôpana uses local ingredients with an oriental twist

Restaurant review: Xôpana

For Portuguese dining with an oriental twist, try this gourmet restaurant at one of Madeira’s chicest hotels.

Choupana Hills Resort and Spa is set on a hillside, surrounding by Madeira’s luscious sub-tropical countryside. The hotel’s Basalt Bar has a balcony overlooking the pool, and serves a range of cocktails, including the Poncha, made from Madeiran rum and lemon juice, with honey providing a distinctive aftertaste.
 

The Poncha cocktail
The Poncha cocktail
The Xôpana restaurant is just below this and serves a range of exquisite cuisine, such as the starter of scallops on a skewer of eucalyptus or the salad with marinated chicken. Flavours are light and succulent, with fish and oriental dishes predominant throughout. 
Scallops
Scallops
For our main course, I choose the lobster served in its own juices, and my husband has the spicy prawn, with baby vegetables flavoured with herbs. Presentation transforms each course into a work of art, and my lobster arrives in succulent chunks layered in a glass jar with crispy vegetable, balanced on a sheet of slate with coarse rock salt swirled across its black surface. 
Lobster
Lobster

While a distinct lack of complex carbs prevents you from feeling overfull, there is an abundance of freshly baked bread on offer, though we opt instead to leave plenty of room for dessert.

We realise this was a wise choice when my beautiful plate of roasted papaya with mint and lime ice cream arrives, drizzled with a crimson sauce of pleasingly tangy port and red currant sauce.

We take our time, savouring each mouthful as we watch the blue sky melt into sunset hues over Funchal bay.

JUDY DARLEY 

The Xôpana restaurant
The Xôpana restaurant
The Xôpana Restaurant
Choupana Hills Resort and Spa
Travessa do Largo da Choupana 9060-348
Tel: +351 291 20 60 20
www.choupanahills.com

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Portugal News
Portugal Homepage 

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Written by: Judy Darley

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