I absolutely LOVE to travel and South America is one area of the world I am hugely interesting in seeing. I have heard so much about the culture and food there and can't wait to see for myself! Luckily, I found a way to get a taste (pun intended) without spending more money than my tight budget allows.
The Taste of Brasil in Oak Park, IL features authentic Brazilian dishes and appetizers, along with a great selection of fresh fruit smoothies. After receiving a recommendation from a coworker, I decided to see for myself... I was pleasantly surprised! The food was AWESOME!!!!
The Brazilian feijoada is prepared with black turtle beans, with a variety of salted pork and beef products, such as salted pork trimmings (ears, tail, feet), bacon, smoked pork ribs, at least two types of smoked sausage and jerked beef (loin and tongue).
This stew is best prepared over slow fire in a thick clay pot. The final dish has the beans and meat pieces barely covered by a dark purplish-brown broth. The taste is strong, moderately salty but not spicy, dominated by the flavors of black bean and meat stew.
Side dishes
In Brazil, feijoada is traditionally served with rice, and accompanied by chopped fried collard greens (couve mineira), lightly roasted coarse cassava flour (farofa) and peeled and sliced orange. Other common side dishes are boiled or deep-fried cassava, deep-fried bananas, and pork rinds (torresmo). A pot of hot pepper sauce is often provided on the side. The meal is often washed down with cachaça, caipirinha, or beer.
I can't wait to go back!!! If you want to try it yourself, check them out at:906 S Oak Park Ave
(between Garfield St & Lexington St)
Oak Park, IL 60304(708) 383-3550
Enjoy!!!
Cherish (A.K.A. Chicago)
