Sunday, January 20, 2008

Eating Global: Brazilian Fusion Cuisine

Take a seat, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and watch this video on Gourmet website featuring the Brazilian fusion cuisine. I found it very interesting, as they went out to the streets to get a glimpse of many dishes like Brazilian Fish and Shrimp Stew (moqueca, pictured above), pastel (fried pastry), sushis, and sweet pizza among others. Due to the mingling of several cultures, the food in Brazil is clearly a combination of several cuisines that create unique dishes using local ingredients, mostly with European techniques.

Or, if like me, you like food movies... Try "Woman on top" (2000, rating R) with Penelope Cruz, who plays a young Brazilian chef that creates wonderful recipes and leaves for America, where she becomes a star as the host of a TV cooking show, Passion Foods Live.

Speaking of movies... What's the best food movie you have ever seen?

8 comments:

Laurie Constantino said...

Man, would I like some of that Moqueca right now. It looks incredibly good! Can't wait for you to post the recipe, Cris!

As for food movies, I think Babette's Feast is my favorite. although Big Night is a close second, and Mostly Martha (not the remake) was also excellent. I enjoyed Woman on Top as well.

Anonymous said...

"Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands" has incredible scenes of Sonia Braga preparing Moqueca de Peixe!

Just found your blog!

Jill

www.SouthAmericanEscapes.com/blog

Geraldo said...

Chocolat, Dona Flor, Like Water for Chocolate... (Woman on Top was "nice", but I think Penelope Cruz is overrated, and Murilo Benicio is on the top of my list of worst actors ever...)
But the best of all food movies I've seen is... Ratatouille! There were only adults in the theater (it was a 9PM session, with subtitles), and when it ended everybody applauded: first time I ever saw this happen with an animated movie!

Suzana Parreira said...

Ohhh, I love moqueca! I've seen the video - it's quite interesting to understand how Brazilian cuisine has incorporated so many different influences in such fashion.

As for the movie, I'll have to go for Ratatouille too. It's just brilliant!

Mansi said...

Brazillian pizza!! wow, that's a newbie:) looks nice Cris:)

btw, I hope you can participate in my game Night Party event I'm hosting on my blog this month:)

Thistlemoon said...

Like Water For Chocolate and Chocolat are my very favorites! Such great films. I will have to check out "Woman on Top". Sounds great!

Nirmala said...

Thanks for the movie recommendation. I would say Fast Food Nation for opening our eyes on how most people eat and why we shouldn't. I would also recommend King Corn.

Nunnie's Attic said...

Hi Cris,
I'm finally back up and running and I wanted to pop over and say howdy! I could dive into that moqueca right about now...

Love,
Julie