Opinion – Marcelo Katsuki: Comida di Buteco, Restaurant Week and other events shake SP

Comida di Buteco starts today, the 8th, and continues until the 1st of May. In São Paulo, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Goiás, the event runs until the 8th of May. There are more than 800 participating establishments throughout Brazil (76 in São Paulo alone)!

This year’s theme is “Buteco Vive!” and celebrates the recovery of popular culture and the atmosphere of fraternization provided by the bar. Snacks are priced up to R$27 and Santander customers have a 10% discount. See more at http://www.comidadibuteco.com.br/.

The 28th edition of São Paulo Restaurant Week continues until the end of April, with the theme “Music and Gastronomy”. There are more than 140 participating houses, among them: Duas Terezas, Fulô, Kiichi, Marakuthai and La Pergoletta. There are five categories of menus created from musical references and well-known artists, such as Carmen Miranda, João Bosco, Aldir Blanc, Caetano Veloso, among others. Prices range from R$39.90 (Gourmet Burger) to R$139 (Diamond Dinner). For each menu sold, a donation of 1 real will be encouraged to the Projeto Cozinha Escola Solidária. To see the list of participating houses, visit the website.

Now it will be possible to buy Lugano chocolates right there on Paulista, in the heart of the Conjunto Nacional. The famous chocolate brand, which was born in Gramado in 1976, opens its third store in the city on April 12 – the other two are at Shopping D&D and Mooca. Its famous alfajores and chocolate dragées will be there. Just like Luguito’s chocolates, for the kids. My favorite? The milk chocolate bonbon with Marula liqueur, a doom. Address: Avenida Paulista, 2023. More info on Instagram.

The Riviera Bar has barely reopened and already has something new: the “Cartada de Mestre”. Mestre Derivan, responsible for the house bar, invited Mia Crash, Gabriel Santana and Spencer Amereno Jr to create versions of classics for the house menu. Mia explored Spritz and Sours to create drinks like Zé Azedinho, which takes Cynar, Vermouth rosso, house citrus syrup and lemon (R$26). Satana attacked Martinis with creations like the Blosson Martini made with gin, grapefruit vermouth with plum and orange bitters (R$36). Spencer has a special section with Negronis, such as the Maverick Negroni with gin, Jerez Fino, vermouth, Campari, Angostura and salt (R$37). The Riviera is located at Avenida Paulista, 2584, on the corner of Consolação.

Flavors from Pernambuco: chef Claudinha Luna, from the restaurant Seu Luna, in Recife, comes to São Paulo and brings her famous recipe for chambaril in her luggage. Claudinha will prepare chambaril rice and a maxixada (for vegetarians) on the 24th of April at the Cozinha da Ocupação 9 de Julho (R. Álvaro de Carvalho, 427, Bela Vista). On May 1st, Labor Day, the chef will be in the kitchen of the Sarjeta Bar, at Rua Álvaro Rodrigues, 459, in Brooklin. If you don’t know the chambaril, here’s a great opportunity. I recommend!