Hello, Boteco Brasil.
R and I were lucky to get another message from Foodgrammer.ph who asked us if we could represent him in Boteco Brasil’s media night. We excitedly said yes but were clueless on what will be served to us that night. Nonetheless, just thinking about having the privilege to be one of the first foodies try a new restaurant’s dishes makes us giddy.
It was slightly nightmarish to get to the restaurant during rush hour as the traffic from BGC to Makati is getting worse and worse. Combine the crazy traffic with rainfall that proved forever’s existence, 5 kilometres would seem like miles away. Surprisingly though, we were still considered early birds when we arrived.
We were greeted by colorful stairs and wall art with the word Brasil which was like entering a wardrobe that transported us to Brazil instead of Narnia.
The restaurant has a few cocktail tables outside perfect for those who like to enjoy some alcohol while puffing some smokes. Since R and I are non-smokers, we went inside the air-conditioned area.
The dining area is dimly lit with the bar as the first thing you’ll see. One of the owners approached us and asked us if we want to try some of Brazil’s local beverages. I almost uttered “Oh yeaaah!” but quickly managed to stay proper and said, “sure” instead.
We were given a glass each of Brazil’s sugarcane cocktail with fruit flavors and a tinge of alcohol.
I chose strawberry as the base fruit flavor and overall, it was a very sweet drink. I think it was because I asked to have it mild; so the sweetness of the sugarcane was hardly offset by alcohol. I didn’t get a sip of R’s lemon flavored drink as I was a bit sick that night and I didn’t want to spread virus.
Dinner started around 7 pm and the first dishes served were Casquinha de Siri, Coxinha Com Catupiry and Pão de Queijo.
The Casquinha de Siri or sautéed crab meat with coconut milk, tomatoes and parmesan cheese had a lovely rich taste that reminded me of our local gata dishes.
I love the sweet and spicy taste of the sauce without overpowering the crab’s natural flavor. It was served as an appetizer but I would eat this with rice anytime.
The baked goods were instant loves! Pão de Queijo (cheese puffs) was so fragrant and appetizing and I drooled as soon as it was placed on the table. I loved how chewy these small buns were and how the cassava complemented the mild cheese filling.
The Coxinha Com Catupiry or the Brazilian homemade dough filled with chicken and catupiry (cheese) was a delectable treat too! It was a simpler version of the usual empanada but crunchier. Too bad we were not able to try the homemade ketchup this dish is served with. (Note: We were told that this dish is a popular choice in parties. Boteco Brasil can serve these in private events and could adjust the size to be bigger or smaller, depending on the client’s preference.)
