Samba in slurps!

As we count the days to the Olympics, the excitement has been growing globally on what to expect from Rio — where to eat, what to drink and what to do. Rio de Janerio, as chefs and foodies know it, is a melting pot of different cuisines — European, African, Portuguese, Latin American and much more. Eat your way to churrascos (barbequed beef), coxinhas (chicken croquettes) or sip on some fine Brazilian coffee. And in case you’re one among the many of us, who is going to be watching the Olympics right from your TV sets at home — DC has brought you some easy-to-make Brazilian recipes that will transport you to this exotic land. Here’s our simplified guide to the best of Rio de Janerio cuisine

So, What makes Brazilian coffee different from the whole world “Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world and due to the amount of land that the country has dedicated to coffee alone, the production of coffee happens on an extremely large scale. Unlike in India, where coffee is grown in the shade, the coffee in Brazil grows in large open lands — where the coffee plants are grown to the extent of huge trees. Hence many countries use Brazilian coffee as the base to the coffee they sell. It is usually not very intense in flavour as the coffee we grow in India but definitely the beans have a heavier body, and slightly peanutty quality. The cafes in Brazil usually have much richer tasting coffee as against what they export.” (Sanjoy Gupta, coffee connoisseur and coffee maker at Estate Craft, Bengaluru)

And What makes Brazilian food unique What is a traditional meal in Rio like “Cuisine in Rio has influences from European, African, Latin American, Portuguese cultures. It is also evolving constantly. Nearly every home can be seen using rice, beans, chili sauce, Brazilian arrow root (tapioca) and lots of churrasco meat cuts — which is a thin cut of beef, unlike a filet, and is usually barbecued. Cafes can be seen selling the world famous Brazilian coffee, and cheese buns. The use of many of these ingredients comes from the history — like tapioca — which was introduced at a time when Brazil had no potatoes. Today, it’s a significant part of their culture.” (Chef Abhiram Gona, Executive Chef, Radisson BLU Hotel GRT, Chennai)

Chimichurri Barbeque Chicken Ingredients Chicken cubes 400 gm Fresh parsley 1 cup Olive oil 1/2 cup Red wine vinegar 1/3 cup Fresh cilantro 1/4 cup Garlic cloves (peeled) 2 Pepper 3/4 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp

Method Mix all ingredients except for chicken in a processor or blender to a coarse chimichurri sauce. Now take the chimichurri sauce and rub it over the chicken cubes and marinate for few minutes. Put chicken cubes on skewers and grill the chicken to perfection over a barbeque grill. Serve the skewers with grilled corn or a fresh salad on the side. (Recipe courtesy Chef Sivagami Nathan, The Residency)

The Wine & slug routine What’s a global event of this magnitude without some cocktails to celebrate. The city of Rio is legendary for its bevy of fantastic new-age bars and tap houses — that have revamped their menus just in time for the Olympics, conjuring up libations with the best of local exotic ingredients — and have extended to far beyond Caipirinhas: Brazil’s national cocktail made from lime, sugar, and cachaça, a spirit distilled from sugarcane juice. Here are some watering holes that are sure to create some epic memories if you are visiting! 1. Atlántico Rio de Janeiro: This cocktail kiosk opened in Rio’s Pepê Beach area, by Argentinian bartender Tato Giovanonni gives beach drinks in the area a classy twist, paired with stunning fresh seafood.

2. Ró - Raw & Wine: The food is made using only organic ingredients, while Ro’s wine list lays emphasis on on natural and biodynamic labels, with the cocktail menu stocking barrel-aged libations — such as the Brazilian classic Rabo de Galo, conjured from Cachaça and Vermouth.

3. Bar do Copa: Located inside the grandoise Copacabana Palace Hotel, it’s airport lounge feel makes it the ultimate spot to grab a gin and tonic. (Tip: It’s frequented by a number of swanky footballers)

4. Academia da Cachaça: Always packed with a lively atmosphere, this relatively cheap venue has more than 100 different types of firewater to choose from, and has created its own selection of blends too.