There you are with a few hours to kill on the island of Madeira, so what to do? Well it's lunch time and there's talk of a speciality... the
Espada. Sounds like a spade to me but the lovely Madeiran maid outside Juliu's assures me it's a fish...
We do special... with a banana... you will love him!.
Leaving fear and trepidation on the doorstep I venture inside and am ushered upstairs to a refreshingly air conditioned dining room. There's a buffet of starters (new collective noun there) and crisp, white tablecloths. Juliu's is on a side street in Funchal and thankfully there's only a few Madeirans in there. After a tastey salad it's got to be the
Espada Spezialoso or whatever it's called... bring it on, I say.
Now at this point I realise that I may have snapped Seņor Espada earlier in the morning down the fish market. He's an uncommonly ferocious looking creature...
Here he is lined up with his mates:
And he's got some teeth on him...
Oh well, in for a penny etc. The fillet of Espada (Scabbard fish) arrives lightly battered, as is the accompanying banana... what a delicious combination. A soft, tastey, deep sea white fish with a delicately cooked fruit...a squeeze of lemon and mmmmmuachh!
Glad I didn't get the eyes... or the teeth...
Try him if you ever get the chance
