Before I went to Brazil, I thought there were basically two kinds of restaurant - one where you choose a dish and pay a fixed amount for it and the other the all-you-can-eat system, where you pay a lump sum and then attempt to get…Read More

Before I went to Brazil, I thought there were basically two kinds of restaurant - one where you choose a dish and pay a fixed amount for it and the other the all-you-can-eat system, where you pay a lump sum and then attempt to get your money’s worth by stuffing yourself. Prior to my first visit to Brazil, I believed the latter to be the ultimate meal deal. However, upon my arrival in Belo Horizonte, I discovered that there is, in fact, a third way.

It’s called self-service. The idea is that you go to the buffet counter, fill your plate, have your plate weighed, and then pay for what you’ve taken. It’s simple but incredibly sensible. You don’t have to worry about getting your money’s worth, it doesn’t encourage gluttony like all-you-can-eat offers, it reduces waste, and you can choose from a wide variety of dishes instead of being limited to one. Rather than leaving the restaurant feeling hungry or uncomfortably bloated, you leave with the rather pleasant and all too uncommon feeling of satisfaction. I realise that this system may be common in other countries besides Brazil; however, it doesn’t exist in the UK and so was new to me.

There are hundreds of good self-service restaurants in Belo, and most offer salads, fruits, and a wide variety of hot dishes and meats as standard. Many places also offer barbeque or dessert on a self-service basis, although the price per kilo is usually higher for these. Depending on the quality of the establishment, prices range from £3 to £6 per kilo ($6 to $12), and many of the restaurants at the lower end of this scale are still very good. I’m a 23-year-old male of average height and slim build and I eat roughly 300 to 400g for lunch each day. I usually spend around £2 ($4), which buys me lunch, dessert, and a drink. I’ve been to many good self-service restaurants in Belo, too many to recommend them all here. However, one of my favourites is called Gula Galope, which isn’t far from Alfonso Pena, the main street in Belo. It’s nicely decorated, has a peaceful outside area, and the food is always fresh. Look it up when you’re in the centre.

I have spent a total of 12 months in Brazil, and I haven’t met a single vegetarian yet. It may be that they were just keeping quiet or perhaps I move in particularly carnivorous circles while I’m there. However, I suspect the real…Read More

I have spent a total of 12 months in Brazil, and I haven’t met a single vegetarian yet. It may be that they were just keeping quiet or perhaps I move in particularly carnivorous circles while I’m there. However, I suspect the real reason is that Brazilian meat, and beef in particular, is too good to miss out on. It’s no wonder then that Brazil is full of restaurants that specialise in churrasco (pronounced, shoohassco).

A churrascaria often comes in the form of a rodizio (hodjeezeeio), which is basically an all-you-can-eat restaurant where the waiters wander round the tables offering you food. You can indicate that you want a break by turning a little card on your table with "no" written on it.

Brazilians have very high standards when it comes to meat, so most restaurants serve better meat dishes than you might find in other countries. I particularly recommend trying a cut of meat called picanha (peecanya) and a type of meat called carne do sol, which has been left in the sun for 24 hours before cooking. The phrase "melt in the mouth" springs to mind!

In Belo Horizonte, I visited a particularly good churrascaria called Adega do Sul, which offers a rodizio barbeque and a salad, hot dish, and dessert buffet. For about £4 ($8), you can eat as much as you like and the meat comes straight off the skewer and onto your plate. The restaurant is spacious and cool and is therefore more suitable for a group visit rather than a romantic dinner for two. The restaurant’s address is Avenida do Contorno 8835.

The food in Brazil is fantastic, the food of Minas Gerais is particularly fantastic, and Belo Horizonte has enough great bars and restaurants to last a lifetime. Add this together and what do you get? Gastronomic Heaven! In my opinion, there are three major…Read More

The food in Brazil is fantastic, the food of Minas Gerais is particularly fantastic, and Belo Horizonte has enough great bars and restaurants to last a lifetime. Add this together and what do you get? Gastronomic Heaven!

In my opinion, there are three major factors that determine your enjoyment of any eating experience and many of Belo’s bars and restaurants score highly in each.

The first is obvious. If the food isn’t good, you might as well eat at home. Fortunately, Belo’s establishments take great pride in their fare and whether it be Comida Mineira (traditional Mineiran cuisine) or pizza, you’re guaranteed a fresh and tasty dish.

The second factor is service. In keeping with Brazil’s reputation for friendliness, staff members are polite, attentive, and efficient. Nothing is too much trouble, and if there’s even a hint of a problem, it will be dealt with quickly, no questions asked.

Lastly, and often underrated in my opinion, is the decor. It’s important to feel relaxed and comfortable when you sit down to eat and in a busy city like Belo; bars and restaurants have become very good at shutting out the hustle-and-bustle of the streets. Whether you're in an open, cool, and airy bar or an intimate, candle-lit hideaway, you’re sure to feel at home.

Add to this variety, value for money, and frequent live music, and it’s easy to see why it’s worth eating out every night. Not to mention the fact that cold drinks are actually served COLD – a novel experience for us Europeans!

For more information on different types of restaurants and specific restaurant recommendations, see my other journal entries.

Like many Brazilian cities, the differences between rich and poor in Belo Horizonte are stark. Rather than the gradual change from wealthy to poorer areas that you find in Europe or the US, the rich often live right across the road or round the…Read More

Like many Brazilian cities, the differences between rich and poor in Belo Horizonte are stark. Rather than the gradual change from wealthy to poorer areas that you find in Europe or the US, the rich often live right across the road or round the corner from a ‘Favela’ (slum). Another aspect of the city which causes a shock to the system is the amount of street children who ask you for money while stopped at traffic lights or on the street. The city’s government wants the public to stop handing money to street children in order to encourage parents to send their children to school. It’s difficult, however, not to be affected by the poverty around you, especially when this kind of existence is unheard of in your own country. I personally feel that giving food instead of money is a sensible alternative to doing nothing, but each person must do what they think is right.

When a city contains a very rich and a very poor group of people living in close proximity, it’s not surprising that crime can be an issue. Almost all houses in rich areas have electric fences, CCTV, and large dogs, and in my experience, crime is often at the forefront of local inhabitants’ minds. It’s hard to tell, however, how much of this is due to fear of crime and how much is based on experiences of crime. Whatever the explanation, it’s wise to take precautions when you’re travelling around Belo, especially if you’re white and don’t speak Portuguese, and particularly at night. I recommend not taking your whole wallet when you go out. Instead, carry your credit card and only slightly more cash than you think you will need. Divide the cash into a larger and a smaller amount and keep them in separate locations, so that if someone asks for your money, you can hand over the smaller amount--don’t bother discussing it with them. Apart from that, the rest of my advice is just common sense–-don’t walk down dark alleys on your own, don’t get into cars with strangers, and don’t flash your wallet, phone, camera, or expensive watch all over the place. I’m happy to say that during the year in total I’ve spent in Belo, I have never had any problems. So, at the same time as being sensible, don’t worry about safety so much that you can’t enjoy your stay.

Belo Horizonte, the first modern Brazilian city to spring from an architect's drawing board, was especially designed for its role as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Its wide, landscaped avenues and carefully planned residential suburbs have, however, suffered the impact of the…Read More

Belo Horizonte, the first modern Brazilian city to spring from an architect's drawing board, was especially designed for its role as the capital of the state of Minas Gerais. Its wide, landscaped avenues and carefully planned residential suburbs have, however, suffered the impact of the country's high rate of urbanization. Belo Horizonte is the distribution and processing center of a rich agricultural and mining region and the nucleus of a burgeoning industrial complex. Its chief manufactures are steel, steel products, automobiles, and textiles. Gold, manganese, and gem stones of the surrounding region are processed in the city. Belo Horizonte is also a leading cultural center, with three universities, a historical museum, numerous libraries, and sports stadiums. Because of its altitude (850m) the climate is refreshing and cool. It has a population of about 2.5 million inhabitants, and covers an area of 333 sq. km. (Adapted from text of the Brazilian Embassy in Washington,DC)    Close