What To Eat And Drink During The Last Week Of The Rio Olympics
What to Eat and Drink During the Last Week of the Rio Olympics
The Olympic Games never seem lose their magic. The power of sport will forever draw out our patriotic nature, and the spirit and pride of the Olympics will always be an enduring theme of the Games.
What will always change, however, is the location. Countries strenuously bid to become a host city, and often scramble to complete construction projects and pull of the [related]finishing touches before opening their doors to the world in a dramatic fashion. The opening ceremonies give the world audience a crash course in history and native culture interlaced with spectacle and fireworks. With the spotlight on South America this year, we get to see what Brazil is all about, and we at The Daily Meal are most fascinated, of course, by the food.
Brazil is influenced by indigenous, European, and African cultures, which is reflected in their food and drink. There is only one week left to soak it all in!
From classic churrasco to cachaça cocktails to sweet little desserts, here's what you need to throw a gold-medal viewing party as you watch Simone Biles or Usain Bolt take home the gold.
Banana Caturra Cocktail
Brazil has many different types of bananas, including the banana caturra with its ultra-creamy and distinctively yellow inside. This blended cocktail of banana, ginger liqueur, and cachaça comes from New York City's Lumos mixologist Orson Salicetti, who made this libation with the Rio Olympics in mind.
Brazilian Brigadeiros
Apparently, brigadeiros were named after a very handsome brigadier (British military officer) who loved chocolate. For brigadeiros, chocolate is combined with sweetened condensed milk.
Brazilian Lemonade
If you are wondering what's so Brazilian about Brazilian lemonade, the answer is simple: limes and condensed milk. No lemons are actually used in the recipe, but we don't think you'll miss them; in this recipe, you don't even have to peel or juice the limes! Note that adding a few ounces of cachaça never hurt, either.
Cajuzinhos de Amendoim
Cajuzinhos de amendoim, or Brazilian peanut kisses, are a delightful mix of freshly ground peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk. They are a great treat to share with friends as you watch your favorite Olympians go for gold. Get the Cajuzinhos de Amendoim recipe here.
Churrasco de Flank Steak
It is a battle of pride between the Argentines and Brazilians over who are the true masters of the grill, but the fact is that both countries are producing amazingly delicious grilled meats. This version of Brazilian churrasco only calls for hot coals, flank steak, and coarse salt.
Feijoada
This Brazilian meat and black bean stew is a classic that must not be overlooked. The origins of the dish are not quite clear, but one belief is that feijoada first became popular in the favelas, or shantytowns, of Rio.
Pão de Calabresa
Pão de calabresa, or rolled sausage bread, is a traditional Brazilian bread baked inside a tube mold or bunt pan. Roll up linguiça calabresa, a popular Brazilian sausage, in dough with a sprinkle of rosemary and enjoy! Find the Pão de Calabresa recipe here.
Paulista Churrasco
More churrasco! This time we present churrasco in the style of São Paulo, one of Brazil's great cities. This simple recipe requires an overnight marinade of lemon juice and is then accompanied by a traditional Brazilian chimichurri made with onion, lemon, red pepper, and cilantro.
Samba d'Ouro Cocktail
From professional mixologist Moses Laboy, this cocktail is "fun, complex and refreshing for those hot Brazilian days when we sit in awe of the superhuman Olympic athlete. Saude!"