São Paulo – Would you like a spaghetti? With meat and tomato sauce, fresh, carefully cooked? Or a generous portion of baked kibbeh? With hummus and Syrian bread on the side? It’s ok if you prefer sushi, a real meaty chorizo steak, like they eat in Argentina, or a flawless Greek moussaka. In São Paulo, the capital of all flavours, you just need to order. Aware of that, whenever they come to the city, tourists of the most diverse origins, domestic or foreign, launch themselves into the cuisine of São Paulo, one of the world’s best in the opinion of specialists and gourmets.
Options abound: according to the Tourism and Events Enterprise of the City of São Paulo, SPTuris, there are 12,500 restaurants and 52 different types of cuisine. There are 1,500 pizza parlours alone, plus 500 barbecue restaurants and 250 establishments that specialize in Japanese food.
It was a feast for the 11.3 million visitors that the largest metropolis in Brazil received in 2009, out of which 9.7 million were domestic tourists and 1.6 million were foreign. Out of the latter, 56.1% came on business trips. Of course, they take seized the opportunity to check out the cuisine of São Paulo.
“Aside from being multicultural, i.e. housing people from all regions of the country and the world, São Paulo is a very large city, therefore many people are forced to have lunch or dinner out of home," explains Ricardo Maranhão, who holds a doctorate in History and is a professor at the Anhembi Morumbi University. According to him, the quantity and quality of restaurants operating in the country’s largest metropolis are also a result of the city’s ability to incorporate different cultures.
Among the strongest influences on the local eating habits, Maranhão highlights the Italian and Arabic cuisines, in addition to the Portuguese heritage, of course. He also explains that aside from foreign references, the city has plenty of establishments specializing in Brazilian dishes. His favourites? "Tordesilhas and Mocotó," he says.
Speaking of preferences and influences, the partner/manager at Arábia, an Arabic restaurant chain in São Paulo, Sérgio Kuczynski, claims that one of the biggest compliments he gets from his customers, especially those coming from abroad, is to hear that their restaurants serve dishes that those in Lebanon, for instance, no longer do. "These are elaborate recipes, which require more work to prepare, and therefore are cooked in households, but not at restaurants anymore," he explains. "We are a stronghold for Arab cuisine and culture in São Paulo," he says.
According to him, word of mouth is the best marketing for Arábia among tourists. "Hotels refer us a lot as well, we get people from all over Brazil and the world," claims Kuczynski.
Another household name among those visiting the city, entrepreneur Walter Mancini owns five establishments on Avanhandava street, in the centre, the most famous being the Famiglia Mancini canteen, and was responsible for the creation of a new tourist spot in the city. The street on which his restaurants are has been reformed through a project of his in partnership with the city hall. Thus, the Avanhandava street got a new decoration, multicoloured flooring and a landscaping project including fountains and a gateway. Well-lit during the evening, the street is now more romantic and inviting.
Proof of that is the fact that gourmets don’t mind standing in line in front of Famiglia Mancini to have dishes such as leg of lamb and classics such as lasagne and parmegiana steak, among others. "Around 60% of those visiting the street are tourists," says Mancini.
In addition to the generous portions and the comfy feel of that part of the centre, Famiglia Mancini is known for being the restaurant that allows customers to send free postcards to friends and relatives. The Postal Service fee is on the house.
Where did the idea come from? "I was watching an interview with Amador Aguiar, the founder of [bank] Bradesco, during which the reporter asked him whether he spent too much paper by mailing printed statements to account holders," claims Mancini. "He replied that this way, he was able to get his brand into the homes of each client," explains Mancini, who came up with the idea for the postcards on that same day. All of which, of course, bear the name of the canteen. All were made to charm, as do the best gastronomic spots in the city of all flavours, where the best food in Brazil is found.
Service:
Restaurants recommended by interviewees in this article:
Arab:
Arábia
http://www.arabia.com.br/site/
Folha de Uva
http://www.folhadeuva.com/
Brazilian:
Mocotó
http://www.mocoto.com.br/index.html
Tordesilhas
http://www.tordesilhas.com/port/
Spanish:
http://www.restaurantedoncurro.com.br/
Italian:
Cantina Gigio
http://www.cantinagigio.com.br/
Famiglia Mancini
http://www.waltermancini.com.br/FamigliaMancini/tabid/108/Default.aspx
Pasquale
http://www.pasqualecantina.com.br/
Japanese:
Hideki Sushi
http://www.hidekisushi.com.br/
Kinoshita
http://www.restaurantekinoshita.com.br/
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
