Bel Coelho and Ieda de Matos prepare a menu in honor of female deities

Cuia restaurant, by chef Bel Coelho, welcomes Ieda de Matos, from Casa de Ieda, for a dinner in honor of the àyabas—goddesses of the African diaspora in Brazil. For the occasion, a six-course menu was created, inspired by religious rituals and the personalities of each goddess.

This single meeting is scheduled for next Monday (8) at the restaurant located in the center of São Paulo, which will open exceptionally that night. The experience costs BRL 340.

The composition of the menu was thought to honor the female orixás Iemanjá, Nanã, Oxum, Iansã, Ewá and Obá. “They represent the waters, motherhood, fertility, prosperity, love and the fair fight for their rights and spaces. Ieda and I feel totally represented by these goddesses and forces of nature”, says Bel Coelho.

The event also features beverage pairing, with wines from the Kogan Wines family, Nativa beer, by Blondine, and Aluá, an ancestral fermented drink, of Afro-indigenous origin. The complement costs R$ 160 more in value.

First, two appetizers are served: duck xinxim croquette, lambão and fermented coconut sauce and acarajé with sweet potato vatapá. Then try the lambreta broth and the crunchy manjuba with taioba efó and dengué (white corn and sugar drink).

The kid meatball with creole corn vatapá and butter bean popcorn is reserved for the main course. For dessert, there will be egg yolk ice cream with banana brûlée, cane molasses gelatin, ado (seasoned roasted cornmeal) and caramel with Brazilian spices.

Born in Chapada Diamantina, Ieda de Matos is based in São Paulo. In 2018, she opened her own restaurant in the Pinheiros neighborhood, Casa de Ieda, where she introduces São Paulo residents to ingredients and dishes that are not very common here, such as sarapatel and green banana godo.

“Talking about the African matrix in gastronomy is very important, highlighting the female orixás is talking about the collective subjectivities of black women with regard to the multiplicity of their voices. A tribute to our matrilineal ancestries that go beyond commercially predefined dates”, says de weeds.

Cuia Restaurant and Bar
Avenida Ipiranga, 200 (Copan Building, store 48), Downtown. Reservations: via email [email protected] or WhatsApp 97617-9154. Few seats left for 21:30.