CHURRASCO

Churrasco is a popular Brazilian style barbecue that offers a wide variety of different cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and fish, which are slowly cooked on special grills to preserve all their natural juices and flavors. Churrascarias are restaurants that serve endless rounds of meats on an all-you-can-eat basis, with drinks and desserts served separately. The most sought after meat is the “picanha”, aka top sirloin, Brazil’s favorite cut due to its blend of softness and flavour. Ideal for those nights you want to treat yourself to lots of good food. Porcão, Rio’s most famous all-you-can-eat steakhouse chain, also offers sushi and fish, as well as scores of side dishes and salads. Everyone’s extremely pleased.

Where to Eat: Porcão

Rua Barao da Torre 218, Ipanema
Porcão Rios :: Aterro do Flamengo
Av. Armando Lombardi 591, Barra
For reservations call 3389-8989

FEIJOADA

Probably the most typical dish from Brazil: a black bean stew with hearty sausages and sun-dried beef, served with rice, collard greens, cassava (manioc) flour and orange slices. This may slow you down on the dance floor. Casa da Feijoada`s specialty. A “must” experience. Feijoada with caipirinha go together like Starsky & Hutch, sticks & clutch. Ask for one from the oak-barrel aged “Vendaval” brand cachaça.

Where to Eat: Casa da Feijoada

Rua Prudente de Morais 10, Ipanema
tel: 2247-2776 :: 11 am to 1am
www.cozinhatipica.com.br

SeaFood

There are two dishes in this restaurant that make it worth coming back: the first is the “pargo” fish in a rock salt mount, served with rice or potatoes. The rock salt is not used to season but to cook the fish at an even temperature, allowing the meat to end up equally white, suave, moist and flaky, as opposed to dark and dry on the sides and under-cooked in the middle. “Pargo no sal grosso” is the name. The second is the Bahian Shrimp Muqueca, a shrimp-coconut milk stew to die for. Worth checking out during the day and night, as it’s outdoor tables view Ipanema and Leblon beaches.

Where to Eat: Azul Marinho

Av. Francisco Behring, Arpoador (Ipanema) tel: 2513-5014
All week 12pm to 12am
www.cozinhatipica.com.br

Buffet

Those wishing to savor a little of the various Brazilian flavours can do so in one special place. Consecutively winning the “Buffet by the pound” category by most papers and critics, the Laskowsky family and its 72+ employees set the pace in Rio for food and service quality with great prices. You can choose to “help yourself” and pay by the pound or opt for the all-you-can-eat buffet. In either option you can treat yourself to oysters, shrimps, salmon, seafood, filet mignon, sushi, fresh green salads, and over 20 delicious home made desserts.

Where to Eat: Fellini
Rua General Urquiza 104, Leblon
All week 11am - 12am
tel: 2511 3600
www.fellini.com.br