Brazil’s Self Service Lunch, Weigh-In with Comida A-Quilo
blog, food
Wherever you go in Brazil, you’ll almost certainly run into the popular self-service style lunch experience, called comida a-quilo or food by the kilo. This is a cafeteria-style experience, but with a distinctly Brazilian accent. You start with a tray and a plate and load up as you pass along the many different meat, veggie and dessert dishes. You choose whatever you like and pay for only what you take…by weight.
Many of the more economical a-quilo eateries offer something special for the locals, known as a prato feito or ready-made plate, also known as the PF. This economical dish is generally not weighed like the a-quilo option, but has a fixed price and fixed menu. Sometimes, the restaurant staff makes it for you and sometimes you can make it yourself–generally limited to one piece of meat and as much salad and carbs as you can eat. Typical Brazilian salad items include lettuce, tomato, shredded carrots and cooked beets. You’ll also find the famous Brazilian farofa, which is a course manioc flower fried with spices and herbs. Rice and Brazilian-style beans are a given.
In most cities throughout Brazil, the restaurants that offer a-quilo and PF meals also offer delivery to your door or workplace. In fact, it was for Brazil’s working class that this tradition became so popular in Brazil. Today, you can hardly find a restaurant that does not offer some type of a-quilo option for lunch.
Brazil is hungry for the ball! But I’m not talking about Brazilian football (soccer). I’m talking about another national passion, known as pão de queijo, or the cheese ball. This tasty morsel is a cheesy bread ball made with cheese, eggs, oil, salt, and manioc flour. The best are said to come from the Minas Gerais Region, where the fabulous finger food originated from a happy accident. In the 18th century, the wheat flour from Portugal was so bad that the people of the area substituted manioc flour and Brazilian food was born.
