The Beauty of Brazil!

Brazil is the largest country in South America. It has the largest rain forest in the world; the core culture of Brazil is derived from Portuguese, African, and the Indigenous. Brazilians are very warm, free spirited, fun, athletic, and family oriented people. The diversity shines through each part of this beautiful place.

The Fashion

        Brazil Fashion Week is also known as Sao Paulo Fashion Week and Spfw. The show celebrated its fifteenth year this year. The event is staged bi-annually (each January and June). The Brazil Fashion Week began in 1996 and was originally called "Morumbi Fashion Brazil”. Now in 2010, the Brazil Fashion Week is the most prestigious and important Fashion Show in the whole of South America. The Brazil Fashion Week is particularly renowned for its beachwear. One very successful beachwear designer is Amir Slama his talent has become known throughout the fashion community with his line Rosa Cha. Naomi Cambell has become somewhat of a muse for him and appears in most of his fashion shows.

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The Food

Brazilian cuisine varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's mix of native and immigrant populations. Feijoada is considered the country's national dish; the cuisine differs from region to region. Some parts consist of stews; some parts consist of tropical fruits and others of seafood. You have such an eclectic mix of food to satisfy your palette.

^{The Coconutty Treat (Cocadas)}

1 lb grated coconut 

1 lb sugar

1 cup water

Dissolve sugar in water and boil the mixture until it spins a thread (I use a candy thermometer; 232 to 234° F). Remove syrup from heat and add the grated coconut. Stir well until it becomes sugary. Pour onto a buttered platter (a marble pizza stone is great for that purpose) and let cool, then cut into squares (about two inches). Pictured above are three different types of cocadas: the ones on the left are made with condensed milk (see recipe below), the dark ones are chocolate cocadas, and the ones on the right are made with passion fruit.

The Last Call(Caipirinha)

1 lime

2 ounces of cachaça

Sugar to taste

Ice cubes

Wash the lime and roll it on the board to loosen the juices. Cut the lime into pieces and place them in a glass. Sprinkle with the sugar and crush the pieces (pulp side up) with a pestle. Just enough to release the juice, otherwise it'll get bitter. Add the cachaça and stir to mix. Add the ice and stir again. It is delicious and potent!