Bringing the best of Brazilian cuisine all the way from Sao Paulo are chefs Wagner Queiroz and Murilo Pessoto (picture above by Rashbehari Das) for a food festival at Waterside Cafe, Hyatt Regency, till September 12. “We use a garlic and onion base for most of our dishes, and dende or coconut oil is what we cook the food in, as Brazilians love coconut,” explains Murilo.

Start your binge with the Caipirinha, a traditional drink extracted from sugarcane juice, with a dash of lime and stirred up with a white spirit. Choice dishes include Seafood Moqueca (or stew), which is soft Robalo fish (a North Brazil delicacy) sautéed in creamy coconut milk and Braised Lamb Shoulder, fresh, succulent and juicy with a hint of spice.

Brazilians are a veggie-loving lot also, the two favourites being pumpkin and papaya. “Salads are a staple back home, and pumpkin and papaya are used in plenty. Dressings like the passion fruit sauce are common for salads,” says Wagner. Try the Carrot Celery, Papaya and Orange Salad With Coconut, the Pumpkin Bobo, or pumpkin stew, and the Steamed Rice With Broccoli and Spinach.

“Chocolate is not common for our desserts. Since it’s always so hot in Brazil, people prefer to end their meal with something cooling and fresh,” says Murilo. So go easy on the palate and on the guilt with Chilled Papaya Cream with Cassis, or the very light Crème Caramel.

To give you a real feel of Brazil, samba dancers will entertain guests during dinner. The price: Rs 1,700 per head for a buffet spread, noon or dinner, and around Rs 2,600 for two, a la carte.