Restaurants

This certainly felt like a ‘casa’ on the night we went: it was full of chatting mothers and their kids, couples, and locals stopping by for a quick bite. A blackboard outside tells you it’s a deli, a snack bar, a restaurant and a place to indulge in the Brazilian classic, feijoada. Edir, who hails from the state of Minas Gerais, prepares Brazilian standards just as she would at home. Starters tend to be carb-loaded, but we devoured the pão de queijo (cheese puffs) and two small (but filling) empanadas with our guaraná aperitif. Haddock moqueca was a nice light main dish to follow, the crisp, tender fish subtly enlivened by coriander and coconut oil. The feijoada was far heavier, with good-sized chunks of pork in a rich broth of beans, onion and garlic. The pot looked small, but, combined with rice and a large portion of farofa (toasted manioc flour) was ample for two. As our chosen juice – açai, from açai palm fruit (there’s no alcohol licence, though you can BYO) – was akin to a meal-replacement drink, we left wondering how Brazilians manage to wear those tiny bikinis given such a diet.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008