Food in Rio De Janeiro

Question

Can someone describe to me the cuisine in Rio De Janiero, Brazil? Just curious...

Answer 1

The capital of Brazilian nightlife is, unsurprisingly, a paradise of fine dining. Almost every kind of international cuisine is available in Rio, but the local dishes here reach their culinary heights. The diva of Rio's dishes is feijoada, a black beans and pork dish that comes with rice, kale, and manioc. To drink, try a caipirinha, Brazil's tasty and infamously potent drink made from cane sugar rum, lime juice, and sugar.

Churrasco is another favorite. Waiters slice off huge hunks of barbequed beef, pork, and other meats, serving them with manioc and onions. Being close to the sea of course means an unsurpassed selection of fine sea food, including fresh lobster, shrimp, shellfish, and numerous fishes. For those who like spice, Rio also has plenty of dishes native to Bahia, Brazil's capital of hot and spicy cooking.

Brazil is a huge country, with several distinct regional cuisines and ethnic specialties. Feijoada, the typical Carioca dish (pronounced fay-show-ah-dah), is a tasty stew of black beans and pork. It has an interesting origin. In the colonial years it was prepared by African slaves, using pork leftovers that their Portuguese masters wouldn't eat, such as the ears and tail. Feijoada is not hot, but it's sort of heavy. It is served with a number of side dishes, including sliced oranges,  cold cuts, farofa (stir-fried manioc flour), couve mineira (thinly sliced kale), and white rice. According to specialists, a good caipirinha helps digestion (good excuse). The national drink is a mix of cachaça, crushed lemon or lime, ice and sugar.

Rio's cuisine is a reflection of the people who made this city. First Native Americans, Africans, and Portuguese and later the French and the Italians contributed their spices and flairs to this gastronomic melting pot. There are also many influences from around Brazil: exotic fish from the Amazon, spicy dishes from the Northeast, country cooking from Minas, barbecues from the South. The feijoada, served on Wednesdays and Saturdays, is the only legitimate dish created by the cariocas (people from Rio). Go to the botecos and restaurants, from the simple to the upscale, and surrender to the flavors, aromas and colors of Rio's cuisine. To make your adventures in gastronomy easier, this guide has divided the city and its many dining options into regions. Bom apetite!

Here are some great websites with lots of info:

http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/brazi...

http://www.ipanema.com/restrnts/

http://www.braziltravelinformation.com/b...

http://www.geographia.com/starwood/brazi...

Answer 2

Rio de Janeiro is a big, cosmopolitan city, so the food is very varied. If you want to try something specifically Brazilian, try feijoada, a stew based on pork and beans but quite variable. It's different from the Portuguese feijoada. Or try a churrascaria, where you eat a wide variety of grilled meats.