I'd recommend you get your co-workers to tell you where to go for various dishes. Sao Paolo has incredibly bad traffic, so if you try to go across town to a restaurant it could take over an hour. That's OK though, as they don't really eat dinner before 9 or 10! Do try to go to a Rodizio or Churrascaria which are palaces of spit-roasted and grilled meats. They have more names for the different cuts of beef steak than anywhere else, I think, but you can't go wrong with picanha, which I believe is a rump steak. MsP is putting together another list for you, please excuse us living vicariously through your travels! Enjoy it!

the meat on those huge swards ........ the best beef producers in the world. (sorry Argentina is too)

Coconut is probably the only thing I don't like - although it's okay in curries. So I'll have to learn the Portuguese for coconut so I can try and avoid it.

Keen to try some new fish, and the steak (can it really be better than Herefordshire beef from a small farm in Herefordshire).

Looks like it'll be an experience - neither myself or colleague have been before and we have no contacts in the country (yet).

sergio, I was debating whether I should suggest Oatcake learn the Portuguese for 'Get Lost' only not such a polite translation for those times . . .

Be careful Oatcake!  Safe trip.

Sergio, also teach him the phrase or 'cabbie, you are taking the long route, turn around immediately or let me out here!'  Actually, they understood my Enlgish that time!  The cabbie complied immediately.  I think there is something about the wrath of a woman being ripped off by a cab driver, it's fearsome I tell you.  

Mr. Oatcake, you will probably not be all that thrilled with Bahian foods because they are heavily leaning in the coconut direction.  My alternate favorite Batida is passionfruit.

Last edited by MsPablo (Mon 25 Jan 10 9:31pm)

Hi, several things here:

As to cabs, I'd probably ask the hotel staff an average price for the ride Im planning to take and based on that, bargain with the driver before moving. Theres no straight phrase or word to tell the guy hes cheating us.
Mr Pab Im glad you had no troubles in São Paulo, I wish Oatcake makes it safe too, thing is we re talking about one of the most violent cities in the planet. Did you know that car dealers instead of offering standard equipments like air cond or electric windows offer bullet proof tyres or glasses...?
Also did you know that for the last years all new condos are built with a bunker inside the house? So that if your house is invaded you can lock yourself there and call for help?
Its also the city where more helicopters are used to move people around. Major executives only use choppers from home to work and vice versa. Its said that in some days they wont touch the city's ground. They leave their houses, land on the roofs of the office buildings then off home again...
When you go to ATM's theres a guard with a sub machine gun guarding the place,etc. etc. we could go on and on.

I really dont wanna sound paranoid but the truth is its certainly not the place for me to go. There's about 50 places I'd choose to go before going to São Paulo or Rio. Or Bogotá for that matter....

As to the seafood, Ive never been to Brazil but my wife has and we ve been to Cuba. We ve had lobster and prawns and she says its very much alike. We didnt like it, maybe cause we re used to seafood from colder waters.
But of course there are plenty of delicious things to eat. Im very fond of brazilian food. Over the last years the community of brazilian people has increased a lot in Portugal and there are plenty of brazilian restaurants. Most are pretty average but there are a few certainly worth going. My favs are from Bahia due to the african influence.

Cheers

P.S. Ms Pablo its cause of women like you that Ive decided long ago not to cheat anyone nor become a taxi driver...   Well done!