La Palma's cuisine is incredibly diverse. They eat all kinds of interesting and delicious food on the island and have been doing so for centuries. Fish is the most popular dish but they also eat a lot of meat (pork in particular), cheese, vegetables and a variety of tropical fruits.

Although the cuisine on the island is distinctly Mediterranean, the Canarians have added their own unique character and style to it. They tend to favour more simple traditional farm produce and meats as opposed to richer, fattier foods.

Fish is one of the most common ingredients in most meals. It's cooked in every way imaginable; boiled, fried, fresh, salted, grilled, fried etc. It's usually served with a delicious 'Mojo' sauce with ranges from mild to extremely hot! Shellfish is served on most parts of the island too.

One of the island's best seafood dishes is called 'Sancocho'. If you like fish, you'll love this. It's a traditional fish stew made from salted sea bream, stone bash and wreckfish. It's absolutely gorgeous. Don't leave the island without trying this!

Another popular dish on the island is 'Gofio'. It's made from toasted wheat and is extremely nutritious and healthy. Normally you eat it with savoury foods like fish, but it can also be eaten as a dough mix. Gofio has been around for centuries. It even has roots in pre-hispanic Canarian culture.

Canarians like their cheese. They produce some superb varieties on the island, some of which have gone onto do well in various national and international competitions. They take their cheeses very seriously!

Pork is definitely the most popular meat on the island. You'll find it everywhere, prepared in a variety of different styles. Other meat dishes include hearty soups and succulent stews. If you like meat, you should try the specially prepared roast leg of pork. It's very tasty and a favourite with the locals.

Potatoes are eaten all over the island. They come in a variety of different ways but probably the most popular is boiled in extremely salty water and eaten with hot Mojo sauce. These are known as 'papas arrugadas' which literally means wrinkled potatoes.