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Sao Paulo Food
Those who love Sao Paulo say that its food is one of the best things about it. Few would disagree; perhaps with the exception of vegetarians.
The traditional Sao Paulo dining experience is called a churrascaria. A kind of Brazilian barbecue, this kind of dining is not expensive and is so unique that it requires a visit from any traveller to the city.
You are seated at tables and can help yourself to salad and vegetables from the barbecue, but the fun really begins when you work out what the red and green card in front of you is for.
The green card will result in a flock of waiters appearing at your side, offering a selection of various cooked meats, from beef to pork and seafood. Although, it has to be said, it will almost certainly be mainly beef.
Once you have more on your plate than you can handle, it's time to turn the card over to red and tuck in. Having paid the buffet charge, it's an all-you-can-eat experience, so if you finish your plate and can fit in some more than flip to green once again.
A good local drink to try at the same time is Caldo de Cana. A local recipe, this beverage is made from sugarcane and lime juice and is an excellent antidote to all that beef.
The metropolitan version of this is the large number of Kilo restaurants. Designed to feed workers during their lunch break, Kilo restaurants are only usually open at this time.
For travellers on a budget, the beauty of a Kilo restaurant is that you get the savings of a buffet with the additional cost-cutting of only paying for what you will eat. It is much like a pick'n'mix in this respect: choose what you would like from the buffet and then have it weighed before you pay.
You will also be getting a decent idea of what 'everyday' food in Sao Paulo is like; with venues ranging from the cheap and cheerful to the highly sophisticated.
On a Wednesday in Sao Paulo, most restaurants serve the traditional feijoada dish. Although some also put this on their Saturday menu, it is definitely a routine Wednesday event.
This heavy meal consists of black beans in a stew with various meats, served with rice and green vegetables. It was originally made from the leftover scraps that the rich gave to their slaves, but remains a firm favourite among locals.
Sao Paulo does not just offer local cuisine however. It has a thriving Japanese quarter downtown, where you will find some of the cheapest high-quality sushi in the world and can also grab a pre-packaged sushi to take as your packed lunch.
Pizza is also a favourite here and there are many Italian restaurants. The European penchant even extends to Switzerland: Swiss fondue is particularly popular in the winter.
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Eating & Drinking
