Barcaxeira

For dinner, Amir brought me to a place called Barcaxeira (play on words for Marcaxeira aka yuca root). Their specialty is this delicious baked marcaxeira, Brasilian queijo, onions, and pulled beef gratin.

First we started with some cachaca and cashew fruit juice.


I love cashew fruit juice. I wish we had it in the states. It has a very interesting slightly nutty flavor, and is a bit gritty. Very good stuff.




Ordered a salad - we have been eating so much fried marcaxeira and needlefish...




So it arrives !


Amir passionately describing this dish...




First bite


Delicious!


After the fantastic dinner, we walked around town. Galinhas means chicken in Portuguese. They are all over the town.

Me talking in a galinhas in Galinhas.


Galinhas <3


Anxiously waiting for dessert




Crepe with cinnamon, bananas, queijo, and cream ice cream




After the delectable dessert, we went to shore to check out some music and people watch. It was a gorgeous night.

Maracaípe, Brasil

Today we took a trip to Maracaípe/Porto de Galinhas which is located about an hour south of Recife in the same state of Pernambuco. It's a very popular beach destination (and it's pretty obvious why).










After lounging on the beach, we went to grab some grub. We had crab that's freshly caught in the river here which also connects to the sea.


According to the crab monger, this crab really wanted to live!


Et voila !


And of course we ordered more fried needlefish.




Amir's idea - here's me pretending I'm a surfer


We walked down the beach to where the river meets the sea. It's super shallow here. Gorgeous, very warm water, where we "took a bath" as they say in Brasilian portuguese.




We walked down to the river, then to the "mongee" which is like quicksand. Amir told me to step in it - my foot got stuck so when I tried to pull it out, my flip flop got stuck. Amir pulled it out of the mongee (in two pieces)


Here I am with a local jungleman. hahaha

La Cuisine Bistro

Saúde!


Sea bass and risotto


Amir's fav - polvo (octopus) rice


Happy and full


A real espresso which is hard to come by here. It's ironic that most of the coffee here is not good. I think they export all the good stuff.


La Cuisine Bistro
Av. Boa Viagem, 560
Recife - PE, 51011-000, Brazil
(0xx)81 3327-4073

Olinda, Brasil

We headed off to Olinda after the bar on the beach.








Amir being Brasilian


We tried some delicious regional food like tapioca which came sweet as well as savory.


This was the savory/meaty/cheesy tapioca.


I also tried the banana, cinnamon, and Brasilian queijo tapioca which was really freaking delicious. This combination is pretty traditional in this area.

We also had deliciously grilled chicken hearts. I <3 chicken hearts! I grew up eating them. =)


The locals. A lot of the regional street snacks here have a heavy African influence.


Did a bit of touristy shopping as well.


Leaving town

Feijoada

I have heard so much about Feijoada and finally had the chance to try it today. It's pretty awesome that the first time I am trying Brasilian food is in Brasil.

Amir and Caro


Oh my ! Feijoada !


Tomato/onions in vinegar. and faroufa


YES




Final plating


I <3 feijoada. It was especially good after a night of drinking and dancing! Afterwards, we went to a bar on the beach for some post-brunch/feijoada cocktails. hah!

Amir looking cool


Joe and his adorable gf, Kaka


Me and the adorable sisters, Caro and Kaka


The band that was playing

Bode (goat) and Samba

Went to meet a bunch of people at a place called "Entre Amigos." We ordered a delicious "bode" or goat stew.




Then we headed off to a samba club called Dona Carolina.


He's teaching me how to Samba !




Good times


This was after I puked the vodka shot I just had in the bathroom trashcan. Still had perma-grin! hahah. Classy.