BRAZIL TRAVEL GUIDE

BRAZILIAN BARBECUE - CHURRASCO

When the churrasco (barbeque) was first introduced in the gaucho Pampas – which covers part of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina – it was not like the one we know today.

At that time, around the 17th century, people were not worried about commercializing beef like today; what mattered was the animal’s hide and fat. For such, they used to have ‘vacarias’, which was when large numbers of cattle were killed in order to remove what really had commercial value at the time.

After that, the ‘vaqueiros’ (cowboys) would carve out the easiest piece of meat to remove and roast it in a hole opened in the ground, seasoning it with the ashes from the fire. This can be considered the most remote origin of the churrasco (barbeque).

As time went by, the number of people that enjoyed this novelty began to increase; its preparation was improved and the meat was handled more hygienically. Little by little the churrasco (barbeque) became one of the most famous and liked dishes in the gaucho region. In the 1960s, the rodizios (the serving of a variety of meats at the table) became the main attraction in the State of Rio Grande do Sul menus, especially in restaurants located along the side of the roads, which are basically truck stops – the ones who disseminated the novelty to the rest of Brazil.

This new churrasco (barbeque) modality (rodízio) consisted of serving all tables at the same time; the waiters would come around with several skewers of different types of meat, offering it to whoever wanted the cut, and as much as they wanted. Today, this practice is found throughout the country, and it is loved by admirers of good roasted meat.

Together with the traditional cuts of beef, items such as chicken, pork, sausages, chicken hearts as well as other types of wild meat like boar and alligator, were incorporated to the churrasco (barbeque). Today, a modern churrascaria (restaurant where churrasco is served) works with at least 10 different varieties of meat, besides all the side dishes – salads, rice, beans, manioc flour and much more - making it one of the most popular dishes in the country. At present, Brazil is the world’s largest meat producer.

The Brazilian herd consists of 165 million heads of cattle, losing only to India, which has 245 million. However, Brazil has the largest commercial herd because in India the cow is considered sacred and, thus, cannot be consumed. Brazil’s meat consumption, which is 34.5 kilos per capita per year, ranks among the 10 largest in the world. In Rio Grande do Sul, churrasco (barbeque) is still part of the deep-rooted gaucho culture. In other parts of the country the dish acquired special peculiarities according to the region where it is prepared.

However, the place does not matter; what matters is that the Brazilian churrasco (barbeque) is mouth-watering and it has become a national passion. As a matter of fact, today we can find an enormous number of churrascarias (restaurants) anywhere in Brazil. Nowadays, our churrasco (barbeque) has acquired international fame.

There are many Brazilian churrascarias (restaurants) spread around several parts of the world, and they are a success, in countries like the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, England, Macaw, Singapore, and Thailand. It is Brazilian culture permeating the world through its delicious culinary.

Salvador - BAHIA - BRAZIL TRAVEL VIDEOS

The city of Sao Salvador da Baía de Todos os Santos was founded in 1549. But since the first years of the XVI century, after the Portuguese discovered new lands, the place where the urban area was later erected had been known already. It called the attention of sailors in that bay that the place was so favorable for the anchorage of ships. In that same year, Salvador became the first capital of Brazil until 1763, when the colonial administration was moved to Rio de Janeiro. During that period, the city played an important strategic role in the defense and colonization of the territory. That is why the Portuguese tried to erect a fortified city on top a hill.

The construction of the new metropolis followed well-defined plans that may be recognized in the urban space that nowadays is occupied by the Historical Center -main public and religious buildings were protected in the higher part of the city. Even though, Salvador underwent the Dutch occupation for some months in 1624. A new attack of the same Dutch in 1638 was not successful. Invaders were repelled immediately.

The Salvadorian population (in Portuguese, Soteropolitena, adapted from the Greek soteropolis, "city of salvation", according to Aurélio dictionary) is formed by the same mixture of ethnic groups that mark the base of the Brazilian people -Blacks, Indians and Europeans. In Salvador, the biggest port for entering slaves brought from Africa since the middle of the XVI century, the African cultural influence always prevailed. It is noticeable in religion, arts, food, and in many other aspects of the life of Salvadorian people. Religious syncretism is mainly expressed in candomblé (Brazilian voodoo), which mixed rites brought from Africa by slaves with Catholicism. Churches in Salvador receive followers of candomblé, like in Nossa Senhora do Bonfim, where every year women from Bahia dressed in typical costumes and do the cleaning of the steps.

In candomblé grounds with ceremonies open to the public, it is possible to help babalorixás, ialorixás and iaôsto (fathers, mothers and daughters of the saints) invoking, by means of dances and singing, orixás, entities that personify the forces of nature. Other symbol of the African culture in Salvador is capoeira. Original from Angola, it was used by slaves as a form of defense and attack. Nowadays is a very popular combination of fight and dance. Capoeira members swing from side to side and hit acrobatic blows using mainly their legs.

Meanwhile, the other members surround them in a circle and sing accompanied by percussion instruments like berimbau, agogôs and atabaques. Walking along the Historical Center, especially through old alleys and squares of Pelourinho neighborhood, is to observe constructions of the XVIII and XIX centuries: old big houses formerly belonging to sugar barons, beautiful baroque churches and majestic public buildings that serve as stage for the people who preserve its cultural roots and take them to the streets, sharing them with visitors. Capoeira, acarajé, patuá, candomblé, atabaque, moqueca, bobó and berimbau are some of the words that manifest the cultural riches of Salvador and that may be better understood by simply answering a question that is part of a song by one of Brazil's greatest composers, Dorival Caymmi: "have you been to Bahia yet?"

And it is also on the streets that Salvadorians make their parties. Salvador lives every year an intense calendar of popular events. Mostly in the period between New Year's Eve and Carnival, the city becomes venue of great celebrations, which reveal the deep religious feeling and happiness of its inhabitants. Salvador has its cosmopolitan side. One of the most sought-for Brazilian destinations by tourists from all regions in Brazil and abroad, the city receives visitors with a diversified network of accommodations that is constantly modernizing.

It is possible to opt between high-quality hotels and charming posadas set up in historical old houses. And together with its restaurants and street-stands that serve delicious regional delicacies, the visitor finds places of superior international gastronomy -French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, among others. Besides a modern airport, the city has infrastructure for events and conventions.

BRAZIL TRAVEL GUIDE

VIDEO - TRAVEL TO RIO DE JANEIRO

Do you want to fall in love??? So it's just see this video and you are gonna be amazed by the natural beauty of this city that is one of the most beautifull cities in the world.

Know Rio de Janeiro by this 8 minutes video with a brazilian bossa nova soundtrack to let you calm down, and contemplate all main tourist attraction places in Rio.

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When you are in Rio, dont forget to try a drink called Caipirinha, made with lemon juice, suggar and cachaça (brazilian liquor made with cana) or Vodka.