Rio De Janeiro Food
Well known for its glitz and style, it is of course as easy to indulge in the Rio de Janeiro's decadent atmosphere through its food and drink as anything else.
Described as having a 'dionysian spirit', this carnival capital parties all day and all night and there is a 24-hour culture for food and drink as well as an outdoor emphasis. With restaurants a plenty, Rio also sports a massive range of potential price brackets, but no shortage of good food on a budget.
The national dish of Brazil is 'feijoada'. The legend tells that this bean, pork and rice dish was introduced to the country in the sixteenth century by black slaves and as cemented itself firmly into the country's culture.
Roughly the equivalent of America's "soul food", the simplicity of feijoada epitomises its appeal as a dish steeped in history and memories. It is served in virtually every restaurant across the country and many have special feijoada days.
The dish is usually served at lunchtime because it is particularly heavy and is often served with a special drink ? 'caipirinha' ? that may make your toes curl if innocently tasted as the alcoholic sirup included in caipirinha is often almost pure alcohol.
Although feijoada traditionally includes every part of the pig thrown in, in recent times the savvy restaurateurs leave out the visually more offensive parts such as ears and tail, so as not to upset the tourists.
Vegetarians need not fear, however. The Vegeteriano Social Club on Rua Conde Bernadotte provides a vegetarian alternative to the traditional national dish, substituting pork for tofu. There is also a variety of health and ethically-conscious items on the menu here, such as rose petal juice and organic wine.
The most famous restaurants in Rio are the barbeque venues, or 'churrascaris', which fit seamlessly into the outdoor beach culture of the famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Beach bars often have a barbeque in one corner and you can often mix your meat and caipirinha with some barefoot dancing on the sand.
You may have to avoid going overboard on the cuisine before stepping out though, as the beaches are also a place for strutting your stuff ? and in Rio, there are plenty of beautiful people keen to display their bronzed six-packs and bikini-perfect forms.
Of the Copacabana beach 'botecos' (open-air bars), Cervantes is the most renowned. The party atmosphere continues almost all night here only to begin again in the morning. It is reputed that Cervantes' crowd includes the young and old, professional and working classes all rubbing shoulders in time to the drums. Try the meat-and-pineapple sandwiches here, if only so that you can say you did it.
As well as sticking firmly to its traditions, Rio is undergoing a culinary renaissance as globalisation and chain stores arrive. If you are not a fan of meat and barbecues then, you can increasingly find a bistro or even a sushi alternative.
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Eating & Drinking
