UberNoggin

No it’s not a new Brazilian rock band. Last night we were treated to an amazing dinner at a traditional Brazilian BBQ. We went with two of our hosts, both named Fabio and neither anything like the “I can’t believe it’s not butter”-Fabio. They both work for the Institute of International Economic Studies here in Sao Paulo. With us was another speaker from the conference, Bill Thompson, who writes for the Guardian in the Uk among other things. He’s a super-techy-chuck-wearing guy after my own heart. However, as a vegetarian in a Brazilian BBQ restaurant (hence the no-buffalo in the title) watching him repeatedly have to refuse the meat-pushers last night at the restaurant was quite amusing. If you’ve never been to one of these places you’re really missing out. The onslaught of waiters with huge kabobs of meat was constant. One second they’re offering you slices from a huge side of Argentinian beef and the next minute they have chicken hearts on a stick whizzing around your head.

In addition to the great company and wonderful food we were also introduced to a drink that the devil himself must have invented…the caipirinha. It’s kind of like a mohito but without mint and made with a rum-like liquor called cachaça. Each glass has a tablespoon of sugar on the bottom, ice, and about half a lime thinly sliced. The the waiter pours either vodka or cachaça over it and you stir it with a tiny spoon. My face was numb before I finished the first one and by the time I was half way through the second one I was considering dancing around with the meat pushers.

It was a great night and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s conference to hear more from Bill and from the other great folks who will be speaking.

Today we explore the city a bit. We’ll walk to an area they call “Greenwich village” here with lots of little shops and restaurants. Should be fun!

Post a Comment