On 21st October, Desarma restaurant, located on the rooftop of Hotel The Views Baía in Funchal, will host the first of three exclusive dinners celebrating the historic arrival of the Michelin Guide Portugal Gala to Madeira, scheduled for 10th March 2026.
This dinner marks the beginning of a culinary journey across the island’s three Michelin-starred restaurants, aiming to showcase the excellence of Madeiran cuisine through its most renowned chefs. The host for the evening will be Chef Octávio Freitas, who welcomes a stellar line-up of Portuguese gastronomy: Benoît Sinthon (chef at Il Gallo d’Oro, holder of two Michelin stars and one Green Star), João Luz (Avista), Rui Pinto (Avista Asia), and César Vieira (Audax), all recognised by the prestigious Michelin Guide.
Octávio Freitas, quoted in a press release, said he is ready "for the challenge of welcoming our fellow chefs and disarming our guests who embark with us on this very special journey.”
The evening will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a welcome drink served on the panoramic terrace on the hotel’s 11th floor, offering stunning views over Funchal Bay. A carefully curated tasting menu will follow, designed to celebrate the flavours of Madeira through refined and creative interpretations.
The menu features bread made from ancestral Madeiran wheat, aged butter, and extra virgin olive oil – Reserva, by Octávio Freitas. Next, foie gras with honey cornbread, passion fruit and banana by João Luz. This is followed by scarlet prawn with green leaf, created by Benoît Sinthon, and cured sea bream with chestnut and passion fruit by César Vieira. Turbot with roasted cucumber, kumbu-sake sauce and trout roe, by Rui Pinto, will also be served.
Octávio Freitas returns to serve a braised veal shoulder with white onion cream, truffle and brioche, finishing with a dessert named "Calhau de Chocolate" (Chocolate Rock) and Madeiran banana.
The dinner will be accompanied by a premium wine pairing, specially selected by the Desarma team. Reservations can be made by calling +351 291 700 220 or via email at info@desarma.pt.
The dinner is priced at €350 per person. This is the first of three gastronomic events celebrating Madeiran culinary culture on the road to the 2026 Michelin Guide Gala. The next two dinners already have set dates. On 29th November at Il Gallo d’Oro, hosted by Chef Benoît Sinthon and on 6th December at William, hosted by Chef José Diogo Costa.
