I had intended to review this book a few weeks ago. I was going to time the review to match Brazil winning the World Cup in soccer. And then there was that match with Germany. I was making cookies with my grandson. We turned off the television in one room and moved to another room to watch the bloody end. In those two minutes, Germany scored two more goals.
I put my copy of My Rio De Janeiro aside. To pause, to mourn, and certainly to forget.
It’s a new day. Time to talk about this wonderful book based on the complexities that can only be found in Rio de Janeiro. Author, and cooking teacher, Leticia Moreinos Schwartz was born in Rio and now lives in Connecticut. The beaches are different.
As a tribute to her home town, in My Rio she takes you on a culinary journey through the neighborhoods that are woven into a great, world-class city. Brazil is famed for is incredibly rich blend of people and cultures. And cuisines. It’s an “over-the-top” country and the food reflects that enthusiasm. Recipe titles are long, the ingredients many, and the flavors embody the full array of tropical delights so easily found in Rio markets and streets.
Beyond recipes, Leticia offers insights into the people and ingredients that are Rio. The photographs — of food, people, and places — depict the warmth of the dishes, the happy smiles, the sunny venues that make Rio a destination we all secretly crave to “someday” visit. Her My Rio tour includes a list of the best in farmers markets, still another incentive to reach for your passport.
You’ll find beverages here:
- The classic Caipirinha made with cachaça
- Papaya and Orange Smoothie, best made with small papayas filled with Brazilian sun
- Pineapple and Mint Smoothie
With all that Portuguese influence, Brazil and Rio cannot escape the temptation of tapas:
- Deep-Fried Beef Empanadas
- Garlic and Cilantro Soup with Poach Eggs and Croutons
A city on the sea will of course offer an abundance of seafood treats, often with European origins:
- Shrimp and Cheese Turnovers
- Baked Salt Cod with Potatoes, Onions, Eggs, and Olives
- Shrimp and Butternut Squash Risotto
- Wild Striped Bass with Caramelized Bananas and Golden Raisin Sauce
- Shrimp, Mussel, and Squid Soup with Shredded White Fish and Fresh Parsley
- Farfalle with Salmon and Caipirinha Sauce [you eat it as well as drink it!]
Meats, especially for a country next to Argentina and with immigrants from around the world, are not forgotten:
- Steak with Fried Garlic served with Rice and Potatoes
- Brazilian-Style Veal Stroganoff
- Slow-Roasted Pork Ribs with Guava Sauce
Poultry comes with ideas inspired by recipes and ingredients from around the world:
- Brazilian-Style Fried Chicken marinated in lime juice and beer
- Duck and Yucca Shepard’s Pie
- Chicken and Chorizo over Jasmine Rice
Rio’s neighborhoods include the rich and then the no so rich where a basic recipe can still be turned into a treasured meal:
- Brazilian Black Beat Stew with ham hock, pancetta, and sausage
- Creamy Cheese Spinach Pie with a crust made of Ritz crackers
- Black Bean and Sausage Soup
- Fresh Peas with Sunny-Side Up Eggs and Sausage
Tropical cuisines have a special knack for sweet endings. In My Rio you can encounter:
- Coconut Layer Cake with Coconut Pastry Cream and Meringue Frosting
- Chocolate-Covered Honey Breads with Dulce de Leche Filling
- Passion Fruit Mousse
- Roulade with Orange-Caramel Sauce
- Brie and Apricot Crepes
Suzen and I have cooked from this book and you’ll soon see some results posted here. In a phrase: homey, yummy, gotta-have-seconds. We have yet to tackle that wild bass with caramelized bananas, but it’s a sure bet for a dinner party. The Brie and Apricot Crepes, well, I don’t really know if they are dessert or appetizer. And I don’t care. I don’t have to care. Why?
Because it’s Rio, lovely, extravagant Rio. And now My Rio can be yours.