Santo da Serra Rural Cooking Demo & Cheese Tasting

A virtual journey into rural Madeira´s Sunday market, artisan cheese and home cooking

Watch the replay of our rural culinary experience from Santo António da Serra, often called Santo da Serra, with Sean, Angie and Chef Sergio Silva. This nearly two-hour virtual experience celebrates rural Madeiran food traditions, artisan cheese, local producers and the flavours of Madeira´s countryside.

Santo da Serra is a rural mountain village in eastern Madeira, shared by the municipalities of Santa Cruz and Machico. Set on a green high plateau above the coast, it is known for its fresh mountain air, countryside landscapes, levadas, farming traditions and lively Sunday market.

For us at Eat & Walkabout, this is exactly the kind of Madeira we love to share. It is not about rushing from one viewpoint to another. It is about slowing down, tasting local flavours, meeting producers and understanding how food, land and community remain connected.

Visit the Santo da Serra Sunday Market in 4K

We originally planned to begin the livestream directly from the Santo da Serra Sunday Market. However, after testing the mobile connection, we found that the signal was not stable enough to provide a good-quality live broadcast.

Instead, we recorded a separate short 4K virtual visit to the market with Chef Sergio and Angie, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere and traditions of one of Madeira´s most authentic rural Sunday markets.

The market brings together farmers, artisans, local families and visitors every week. During the visit, you can discover seasonal fruit and vegetables, flowers, traditional snacks, homemade products, local crafts and the relaxed Sunday morning rhythm of Santo da Serra.

A Sunday morning here is something you see, smell and taste. You may catch the aroma of roasted frango, see people stopping for a poncha, discover traditional dentinhos and watch neighbours gathering while local vendors sell their produce.

Watch the Santo Queijo Rural Cooking Experience

The main live experience was broadcast from Santo Queijo, a family artisan cheese producer in Santo da Serra. During the replay, we share the story of the cheese factory, the family behind it and the rural food traditions connected with this beautiful part of Madeira.

Inside a restored traditional palheiro, once used as a rural barn and now transformed into a welcoming cooking space, Chef Sergio and Angie prepare and share some of Madeira´s most iconic flavours.

The cooking demonstration includes traditional Madeiran poncha, freshly prepared bolo do caco, beef espetada, black scabbardfish and a cheese dessert inspired by Santo Queijo´s fresh artisan cheese.

Throughout the experience, Sean, Angie and Chef Sergio share stories about the ingredients, recipes, cooking methods and people who help preserve Madeira´s rural culinary heritage.

This is a relaxed and informal celebration of Madeira´s countryside, combining artisan food production, family traditions, local knowledge and the pleasure of preparing and sharing food together.

Experience rural Madeira in person

This virtual experience is connected to our in-person Madeira Culinary Day Tour: Artisan Cheese Farm & Cooking Class, a private culinary journey from Funchal into Madeira´s countryside.

Travel beyond the island´s main viewpoints to meet local producers, discover Madeira´s rural food culture and enjoy artisan cheese, traditional recipes and a Madeiran cooking experience.

Read the full story behind our Madeira virtual experiences, from the Funchal fireworks livestream to Santo da Serra Market and Santo Queijo.

You can also explore more of the island in our Madeira Travel Guide and our Santo António da Serra Travel Guide.

Our Destination Partners
We partner with tourism boards to best represent our selected destinations.

This live virtual experience takes place on a special date:

Live virtual experience date:
Sunday, July 12th, 2026 @ 12:00 PM Madeira Time (90 min. approx.)

Register free here:
View for free the live stream