A TASTE OF BRAZIL !

COPACABANA BEACH	IGUA Ç U FALLS
SAO PAULO	RIO DE JANEIRO

A BIT OF BRAZILIAN CULTURE FIRST... Brazil is renowned for its special cuisine.  Each region of Brazil offers a different taste, and a story behind each dish! Brazilians love to use the freshest ingredients, share meals with family and friends, and take the time to savour their meal.   Breakfasts are simple and they usually consist of fruits, freshly squeezed juices, bread and jam, cheese, and coffee ("cafe com leite"). Lunch and dinner are more substantial... and very different concepts from the North American culture!  The Brazilian custom for lunch and dinner is to sit-down and leisurely eat with the company of others.  Family members often go home for lunch to eat together, then go back to work or school, and then reunite again at the dinner table!  It is rare to ever see a Brazilian eat lunch at his desk at the office, or take a meal to go! Special occasions would not be as special without the time and preparation Brazilians put into the foods they serve and the planning of the event.  Children's birthday parties are major events - they are not only for children either... the child's friends AND their families are invited to celebrate!  At these parties, a lot of time is put into the decorations, planning themed activities, putting together party favours, preparing a table full of appetizers ("salgadinhos"), and making delicious desserts ("docinhos"). Brazil is country of fruits!  "Feiras", or street markets, happen once a week and always at the same location.  Prices start going down after certain times of the day, and all you need is a big straw bag or a little cart to carry all your purchases! What can you get at these feiras?  A huge variety of fruits and vegetables..... pineapples, papayas, mangoes, bananas (large or tiny), oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes, passion fruits, avocados, coconuts, tomatoes, greens, carrots, potatoes... Brazilian veggies: chuchus, maxixe, jiló, fresh hearts of palm, and  manioc root (a common ingredient in many recipes!).   There are also a selection of spices, like the extremely hot Brazilian peppers "malaguetas" and "pimenta-de-cheiro" from the Amazon. Or you can pick up some cookies by the kilo, chicken, eggs, or fish, or a couple of bouquets of flowers for around the house.   Brazilians like their breads freshly baked.  Twice a day, early in the morning and in the evening, they'll stop by the closest "padaria" (bakery) for some hot rolls and baguettes.  Bakeries also sell cheeses, cold cuts and grilled meats.  For sweets and desserts, it's best to go to a "doceira" (sweet shop) which is just desserts and cakes!  You can also go to the supermarkets, large cities have great ones.  There you will find a bit of everything like North American supermarkets... meats (although the types and cuts are much different in Brazil), milk (which is called "Longa Vida", or long life, because it is sold in boxes and does not need refrigeration until it is opened), cheeses, yoghourts, fruit drinks, sodas (Brazil's soft drink "Guaraná" made with the fruit guaraná), breads and pasta, etc.... Now it is time to get out the apron, buy some groceries, put some bossa nova music in the background, and invite some family and friends.  Here are few choices of what you can serve to impress your guests.  Many ingredients can be found at the supermarket, Latin American / Asian grocery stores, or health food stores.

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*** RECIPES, INFORMATION, AND PICTURES OBTAINED FROM WEBSITE ADDRESS:     http://www.maria-brazil.org

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