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Friday, August 19

The Brazilian breakfast

I have just mentioned the so called "cheese bread", wich happens to be a very popular component of the Brazilian breakfast. It can be compared, to some degree, to the pancakes or waffles in the America and European versions.

Brazil is a pretty big country, so the breakfast table varies quite a lot, depending on where you are. The one described here is valid for Brasilia, Rio and probably São Paulo as well (Central Region). Besides the "cheese bread", the favourite things to have is the classic combination coffe and milk with toast. Not the toast most people know. It is a little different. In Brazil, we have something called "French Bread". Don't ask me why, for I have never seen a French Bread outside Brazil-not even in France. It can be described as a mini-baguette, about the size of a croissant. I believe all Brazilians eat that. Honestly... When the "French Bread" price rises, the population gets pretty angry! The toast is made with this bread; cut in half. Butter is spread all over its inner side and it is put on a very hot metal plate to grill - "Chapa", we call it.

It comes together with the coffee, usually mixed with milk, and served on a glass, rather than a cup. Since it is often served half coffee/half milk, it is known here as "Média", which can be translated as "Mean". This breakfast is often served in most bakeries around the country. Rio de Janeiro is notorious for the routine of workers that take a little time in some bakery before going to work, in order to have some of these.

As far as I can tell, this "Brazilian breakfast" (I just invented this expression) is for some unexplainable reason much better in Rio than here in Brasilia... And strange as it may seem, the less inviting the bakery will look, the best the breakfas will be. I had unforgettable breakfasts in some very dirty-looking places. They are the best!

I don't believe this will ever figure in a traveller's guide, but stopping at one of those bakeries for a coffee and a grilled bread is really worth the time!