Peruvian food has not-so-secretly been positioning itself as the cuisine of choice over the past couple of years. Of course, this is no devious plan from Peru itself, more a realisation from everyone else that they actually have some great chefs and restaurants. Not to mention the need for any Londoner to devour as many different fads as they can in one go before moving onto something else “new.” Continue Reading

The first impression of this magnificent architectural front that rises on the road to Santa Ines, in the heart of the Serra da Cantareira on the outskirts of São Paulo is impressive grandiosity. The place is enormous and spellbinding. Surrounded by greenery, the buildings are in a style almost reminiscent of citadels. There is always an unusual and rustic detail on show. O Velhao is a reclamation and salvage yard often commissioned to restore some of the city’s most prominent sites. Continue Reading

The traditional Christmas feast in North America usually culminates in a big slice of pie – usually pumpkin pie, though there are families that swear by mincemeat. And (at least according to Mr. Dickens) in England everyone wants to finish their meal with a serving of steaming hot Christmas pudding with hard sauce.
In Brazil the Christmas meal often centres on roast turkey, just like in North America or Europe. The bird is unlikely to be stuffed though, and it was probably baked not in the house, but down the street where the neighborhood bakery roasts everyone’s turkey at the same time, for a small fee. But when it comes to dessert, Brazil steers its own course. No pie, no pudding. In fact, nothing that Northerners would consider dessert at all. Continue Reading

It’s always exciting when a new restaurant opens, and even more exciting when that restaurant is Argentine, or in other words, that restaurant is serving food from the country that you will always associate with the finest cuisine you have ever enjoyed. Continue Reading

The unification of the global economic order means the world is getting smaller. People can be born and grow up in one country, then spend their working life in another and perhaps retire in a third. As a result, dual nationality is becoming increasingly popular and more people, and their children, are becoming multi-nationals, identifying with several cultures, languages, religions and gastronomies at once. Continue Reading

It seems as if rodizios are taking over London. Every month a new rodizio seems to open it’s doors, and once more an endless stream of barbecued meat is brought to people’s tables for eager consumption. So, we thought it was about time we gave a little introduction to the rodizio concept and picked out a few rodizios in London that are worth checking out. Continue Reading

Should nations have an official national dish, like they have an official flag, a national anthem and a coat of arms? Unofficially, many countries already have just such a dish – who would deny national dish status to haggis? Some have even suggested bestowing national dish status on England’s chicken tikka masala, though that one definitely sticks in the craw of culinary traditionalists and conservatives. They’d be happier crowning roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Continue Reading

Last Saturday I was invited together with two other friends to the Cookbook Cafe, an informal eatery located on the ground floor at the five-star InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane, which is currently hosting a Colombian Gourmet Festival. Continue Reading

In this guide Rosana McPhee – a Brazilian living in London – talks us through the origins of Brazilian food, explaining why it is so distinctive, and also looks at the customs associated with it and how Brazilian cuisine varies regionally. Continue Reading