Rio de Janeiro Food & Drink
Probably the best part about visiting Rio de Janeiro is the food. There seems to be a restaurant on every corner, serving anything from simple finger foods to gourmet meals. Rio is known for its cuisine, whether it be Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese or traditional.
Breakfast in Rio – A Great Start to the Day
Breakfast in Rio is usually a simple affair, consisting of assorted breads, meats, cheeses, fruits, juices and coffee — very strong coffee. For Cariocas (as natives of Rio call themselves) on the go, a breakfast may consist of the famous pao de queijo, small balls of cheese bread made from manioc flour and strong-flavored cheese, which are addictive. In addition, Brazilians have their own form of fast food called pastels. Pastels are a small deep-fried pie containing any number of fillings, such as ground beef; hearts of palm, chicken; or shrimp.
Lunch the Carioca Way
Lunch is the largest meal of the day and most Cariocas favor going to the many restaurants in Rio de Janeiro that serve a buffet by the kilo. For one set price, you can eat like a king, and everything is made fresh. Most buffets include several green salad choices, fresh vegetable dishes, potato salad, roasted and fried meats, stews, French fries, steamed yucca and rice, and various desserts.
Feijoada is the best known dish in Rio and in all of Brazil. It is traditionally served in restaurants and cafes on Saturdays. Feijoada is a thick stew with a black bean base and flavored with several different meats, particularly smoked sausage and pork. It is slow cooked to blend all the flavors and when ready, is served over rice and accompanied by fried kale. After eating the feijoada, slices of orange are then eaten to aid in digestion of the meal.
The Best Dining Experience Rio Has to Offer
No visit to Rio is complete without visiting a churrascaria (Brazilian barbecue), where dozens of meats are carved table-side at your request, and the meal includes an unlimited salad bar that you simply won’t believe.
Drinks All Around for Those Sunny Days at the Beach
As for drinks, Brazilians are known for their love of beer and they have quite a few favorite brands such as Antarctica, Bohemia and Skol. The drink most tourists associate with Rio de Janeiro is the caipirinha, a concoction of cachaça (ka-sha-sah), which is a sugar-cane based grain alcohol similar to vodka, powdered sugar, and crushed limes.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as to what you will find in the way of food and drink in Rio de Janeiro. One thing is certain, you will never go home hungry.
Read on the next page: Rio de Janeiro Visas »
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