TROPICAL FRUITS ANYONE? and other Brazil Restaurant Reviews

Never saw pineaples like ours,did you??


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HEHE..this one is sweet,but you can find it only in few places..let me introduce you:ACURI!


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This chapter is dedicated to my friend Utttz who asked me once "how to prepare that stuff with the black beans",so,here we go with a little history of this traditional meal,a complete recipe of the most traditional Brazilian cuisine-Feijoada,will follow next chapter!
Feijoada is directly connected with the presence of the African people in Brazil.
As a result of an European-feeding habits with the creativity of the African slaves,it has become a symbol of our National cuisine.
This process started by the time of gold findings in the "Sao Vicente" capitania(an administrative division)by the turn of the 17th century,the begining of mines activities in Brazil led to creation of new "capitanias" and thus changed drastically Brazilian economy.
Since then,the use of currency in trade,instead of the previously used product such as cocoa and cotton,boosted the need of slave labor force,consequently increasing African slave traffic,and,therefore,its influence in our feeding habits.
In the gold mining areas(Minas Gerais,Goias,Tocantins and Mato Grosso),since slaves were all hired in the search for gold and diamonds,having no chance to care for their own food,provisions used to come from other regions(Sao Paulo and Rio De Janeiro coast)on beasts of burden in troops.This is the origin of the also popular "Feijao Tropeiro"(a meal improvised by muleteers on their journeys),which adds to this strong national preference for dishes based on black beans.
At that time,in Diamantina,slave's food used to be basically made up of maize flour,black beans and salt,mixed before served.
Shortly afterwards,meat was added to this dish,along with the admired Portuguese stew
which included assorted meats and vegetables,boiled all together,with the previously used beans,lard and flour.
FEIJOADA was then created!!
At present,this traditionalBrazilian dish consists of black beans boiled with some pork(ear,tail,feet,etc..)with side orders of green kale fried with oil and garlic,white rice,manioc flour amd pepper sauce.


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The best feijoada I had the pleasure to eat was made by my parents housekeeper,Dona Jesuina,who used to work at the Caesar Park Hotel,and brought to our kitchen the secret of a delicious Feijoada.
INGREDIENTS:
4 1/4 lbs black beans
1 1/4 lbs dried beef
1 lb salt cured pork
1 lb bacon
1 lb smoked sausage
6 pieces dried sausage
1 piece smoked beef tongue
2 pig ears
2 pig tails(or equal amount of ox tail)
2 pig trotters
1 large chopped onion
1 medium chopped onlion
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves
oranges
hot peppers
rice,manioc,couscous or fried,shredded kale

Favorite Dish: PREPARATION:
Place beans and salted meats in SEPARATE bowls!
Cover each with water,keep covered like this for 24 hours,but change water every 6 hours.
Put ALL ingredients into a very large cooking pan and cover with water,add 1/2 orange,3 bay leaves,1 medium chopped onion and pepper.
Cook everything under a low heat and gradually withdraw the meats as they are cooked to prevent them from becoming too soft.
In a separate pan heat a tablespoon of soybean and fry the 6 cloves of garlic and the large chopped onion.
Pour into the beans and mix well.
Temporarily remove a cup of the beans and crush with a wooden spoon to thicken the sauce.
Serve with rice,manioc or fried kale along with oranges and hot peppers.
TIPS:
-always cook over low to moderate heat
-the orange will add falvour and improve digestion
-in the case you need to add water,always add boiling water
BON APETTITE!!

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I will tell you a little about Cafezinho,a word than more than beinga diminuitive for "cafe"
is almost a synonym for WELCOME in Brazil!
Wherever you go,the minute you cross the door you'll hear the words "voce quer um cafezinho?"(do you want to drink coffee?),and we don't take NO for an answer!!
And maybe we will not even ask and the cafezinho will soon materialize on a dainty tray brought in by a maid.
In offices,someone will come by and serve cafezinhos to you at your desk,so don't be surprised if,smack in the middle of a business discussion,your Brazilian counterpart offers you a cafezinho too!
And,at that point,the conversation may well switch to a non-business topic while you sip away at your coffee.
Or you can be "belly up to the bar"at any "botequim" with a counter in Rio and enjoy your cafezinho in a traditional botequim cup.


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Brazilians like their breads freshly baked,so,twice a day,early morning and at the evenings,they will make a track to the closest "padaria" ,and bring home all sorts of hot rolls and baguettes.
Brazilians have a lot of packaged cookies,the most popular and a must try is the famous "biscoitos(cookies)Maria",also the coconuts ones called "Calipso".
My favorite wafers are the chocolate flavor "Sao Luis".
Also freshly baked arrowroot,coconut and cornstach cookies(biscoito de polvilho)are marvelous!
Bakeries also sell sodas,cheeses and cold cuts and a variety of other foods.
Many padarias will also sell grilled chickens,so if you're a busy person,you can pick up your dinner together with fresh bread!
Don't forget Brazilians use the metric sistem,so 100grams of ham will be around a quarter of a pound.


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Large Brazilian cities have great supermarkets!Porto Alegre has some of the best I've seen so far in the world!
Supermarkets in Leblon,Ipanema and other
Rio's neighborhoods tend to be very crowded due to lack of space.
Once you go to the suburbs,they increase in size dramatically.On the other hand,smaller chains like "Farinha Pura"(try the one inside
Cobal Do Humaita in Rio),have suberp stuff
stocking only the best of everything..incredible shopping experience!
Also in Rio,"Hortifrutti"(with several locations)
carried wonderful fruits and vegetables.
Cashiers do not weigh produce,you'll have to do that when you bag them(there's usually someone there to do that for you).
For that and other reasons(shopping seems to be a family past-time in Brazil,so you may have a mother with 4 kids in front of you in the check-out line),it'll take more time to shop in Brazil! In spite of that,one of the things I enjoy most here is to go to the supermarket with as more as possible guys from my parents house.
Going to the supermarket and checking out the diferent departments for Brazilian fruits,drinks and pastes,soft and creamy cheese like "Queijo De Minas","Requeijao" and "Catupiry",and marvelous Brazilian sausages and salted meats.Don't be afraid to try all of them!
And again,don't forget we use the metric sistem,ok?!

Favorite Dish: Meat:although you may recognize meat cuts like pork chops and such,beef cuts are very diferent and prepackaged meats are not as prevalent.Normally,good supermarkets will have a butcher who will cut and weigh the meats for you.
Fillet Mignon is,of course,the "king"of all beef cuts,and is available at the supermarkets.
Also,as you weren't confused enough,names of cuts will vary in diferent regions in Brazil,mainly,you should ask for "maminha" for roasts,"contra-file" for steaks,"picanha" for barbecues(yummy!!),and "alcatra" for hamburgers-here pay attention:ask it to be minced twice."Bisteca" is also a nice cut for steaks.

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Ok,our next list for shopping at the supermarkets(btw,this list is special for tourists staying in aparthotels and excited to cook & buy their own food!).
Meat:Brazilian supermarkets also sell a large variety of salted meats for "feijoada"and other traditional dishes and imported salt cod,which is used in dishes of Portuguese origin,like the delicious "Bolinhos de bacalhau"!!
Lots of varieties of sausages as well,try grilling it or adding to your feijoada(follow my recipe).
Chickens in Brazil tasted delicious,and it has to do with the way they are fed and the fact that they are not so fat.Try a "galeto"(very young chicken,which you can buy already roasted,for example,at the "padarias"-see Bakery tips),it's usual at my parents home specially at the summer,none has to sweat at the kitchen,only whip up a salad!


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Milk and other dairy products:Brazilians have a type of milk called "longa vida"(long life),which is sold in boxes and doesn't require refrigeration until it's opened.
The Italian industry "Parmalat" has been in Brazil for a while now:they sell all sorts of milk
products in cute little cartons.
The other funny way here to sell milk is in litter sized plastic bags(which when I was a little kid and went to buy milk,I always had the talent of coming back with half away thru a hole).There are some marvelous yogurts and yougurts with fruits in bottles for drink-my favorite is yougurt with honey,orange and carrots!
Brazilian cheese are a must,try a slice of "Queijo De Minas"with a slice of "Goiabada"(guava) or "marmelada"(quince)
and you'll have a traditional Brazilian dessert
called "Romeo&Juliet".
Salamis and other meat cuts are sold with cheeses,and the variety is amazing-thanks to all those wonderful Italian & German immigrants!
Fruit juices:are sold in the supermarket either in glass bottles or in boxes that do not need refrigeration until opened.
You'll need to dilute juices like cashew or passion fruit because they're extremely tart(add some sugar too)."Maguary"is my favorite juice company,taste wonderful!
Don't pass up the oportunity to taste the famous Brazilian drink "Guarana",made from Amazonian berries-it's loaded with caffeine and superior in taste to Coke or any other beverage I can remember!(there's a diet version as well!)
Breads and pastas:supermarkets will have a good selection of breads and pastas,which Brazilians eat a lot!!
International products:all the best supermarkets have now a considerable amount of goods from the US,Argentina,Uruguay and other countries.


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