6 Must-Try Brazilian Dishes in Kansas City
Part of the fun of watching the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro – besides the thrill of the games – is learning more about Brazilian culture, including the country's traditional dishes and drinks.
Kansas City is lucky to have a handful of places serving authentic interpretations of Brazil's traditional dishes. Check out this list of must-try Brazilian delicacies to enjoy throughout the Olympics.
Caipirinha at Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
If you're ready to get your drink on in Brazil, you must start and end your night with the caipirinha, considered the national cocktail. Seasonal versions of this simple muddled drink are typically available in Brazil, but the most traditional recipe features cachaça, a spirit made from fermented sugar-cane, sugar and lime. In Kansas City, the best place to get a caipirinha is at Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse on the Country Club Plaza. The key is to order the Fogo Premium Caipirinha, which uses a premium-aged cachaça with a golden hue and a more mellow flavor. (Photo courtesy of Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse)
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse, 222 W. 47th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.931.7700, fogodechao.com/kcrwÂ
Feijoada at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival
Feijoada is a dish that takes some time to make it properly – that’s why you usually find it served in restaurants or homes in Brazil only on the weekends. The rich black bean stew is cooked down with beef and pork sausage and served over white rice. It's typically served with orange slices, sautéed collard greens, farofa or toasted and seasoned yucca flour and a chunky vinaigrette that looks like pico de gallo. The best place to enjoy authentic feijoada locally is at the Brazil booth at the annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival this Friday through Sunday at Swope Park. The festival is one of the largest of its kind in the country, and features more than 60 different cultures from around the world selling their native foods and crafts while performing ethnic music and dances. Admission to the festival is $3 for adults, and kids 12 and under are free. Parking is also free. The festival runs Friday from 6 to 10pm, Saturday from noon to 10pm and Sunday from noon to 6pm. (Photo courtesy of Ethnic Enrichment Festival)
Ethnic Enrichment Festival 2016, Swope Park at Meyer Blvd. and Swope Pkwy., eeckc.net/events/ethnic-enrichment-festival/
Picanha at Em Chamas Brazilian Grill
Many locals are familiar with a traditional Brazilian steakhouse in Kansas City – after all, Kansas City is a cowtown that loves its meat. Diners might not be as familiar with the delicious Brazilian delicacy known as picanha, though. Brazil has made this cut of meat popular; it's considered prized for its buttery, melt-in-your-mouth flavor and it has a nice fat cap that is left on for roasting over open flames that keeps the meat moist and juicy. Picanha is not well-known in the U.S., but it's usually referred to as the rump cover, rump cap or coulotte. A great butcher can easily get it for you if you'd like to try roasting one at home. Although there are many excellent places to try Brazilian churrasco in Kansas City, Em Chamas Brazilian Grill was Kansas City’s first locally owned Brazilian steakhouse, and the restaurant does a wonderful job with its picanha that is cut for diners tableside. (Photo courtesy of Em Chamas Brazilian Grill)
Em Chamas Brazilian Grill, 6101 NW. 63rd Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.505.7100, emchamas.com
Pão de Queijo at Taste of Brazil Market
For the best selection of savory beach snacks, Guaraná soda, green coconuts and more, head to Taste of Brazil Market in City Market. This colorful store, cafe and bar is the only place in Kansas City where you can shop for the ingredients to make authentic Brazilian dishes. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, you can order up a fine selection of fried and baked Brazilian finger foods. Try the cheese bread, pão de queijo, along with one of Brazil’s most loved sodas, Guaraná, for a perfect snack. Mix it up with a coxinha, filled chicken croquettes and an empadinha, or mini chicken pot pie, both of which can be sprinkled with hot sauce before eating. (Photo courtesy of Taste of Brazil & Market)
Taste of Brazil Market, 25 E. Third St., City Market, Kansas City, Missouri, 816.527.0400, tasteofbrazilkc.com
Harvest Table at Porto do Sul
Brazilians love a good crunchy salad with plenty of creamy dressing, or even a light vinaigrette dressing made with olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper. For the best and freshest selection of traditional Brazilian salads including the palmito or hearts of palm, chicken salad or mushroom salad, try the Harvest Table at Porto do Sul in Overland Park. Here, you can order this as a start to your Brazilian steakhouse experience or skip the meat entirely if you're looking for a lighter meal. The Harvest Table is one set price, and you can enjoy as much as you would like. Plus, it  features a wonderful variety of can't-miss traditional Brazilian hot dishes. (Photo courtesy of Porto do Sul)
Porto do Sul, 11900 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas, 913.283.9180, portodosul.com
Brigadeiro from Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro
Brazilians always seem to want a little something sweet after a savory meal. This creamy Brazilian candy, made with sweetened condensed milk and cocoa, fits the bill and lately, it's taken Kansas City by storm. Launched in 2015, Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro is Kansas City’s first artisanal brigadeiro shop. These candies come in an impressive variety of flavors and are handcrafted by a Brazilian team consisting of Jessica Antunes and her mother, Regina. Choose six different brigadeiro flavors to create your custom box of 24 candies, including options like milk chocolate almond, white chocolate Nutella, crunchy white chocolate, crème-brûlée, dark chocolate, pistachio, walnut, lemon, coconut and Caipirinha Brazilian cocktail. Make sure to include the plain chocolate with chocolate sprinkles in the mix, as those are considered the most traditional flavor in Brazil. (Photo courtesy of Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro)
Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro, sweetkissbrigadeiro.com