Tales on the table

Eksted - Stockholm (Sweden)

With a Michelin star to its name (and well deserving of a second one in my book), @ekstedrestaurant uses fire as the only element of heat to cook an impressive tasting menu.

Chef @niklasekstedt decided to learn about pre-electricity scandinavian cooking methods and bring them into the present, where such techniques are now the heart and soul of a renowned modern restaurant.

Their signature “flambadou’’ wild oyster cooked with reindeer fat is nothing short of flawless, but the rest of the menu does not disappoint either. Think wood oven baked sourdough bread, seaweed fired langoustine, hay flamed pike perch, smoked lobster with green strawberries, amber baked scallops and much more.

You can feel the unmistakable presence of fire at the centerstage of each and every dish, bringing rich smells, singular textures and complex flavors that never cease to surprise guests.

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Meatballs for the people - Stockholm (Sweden)

Probably the first thing that comes to mind of most people (or at least for people like me) when thinking about traditional food in Sweden is Swedish meatballs.

I have to start by saying that, even though the meatballs are pretty good, there is so much more to explore. Given the country’s geographic position, with a coastline of clear cold waters and half of the country covered by forests, local cuisine relies heavily on all kinds of seafood and wild animals. On top of that, the extreme winters led to the development of fermented and pickled foods.

Regardless of that, I knew that I couldn’t miss out on what is probably the national dish during my days in stockholm. And after trying it in a few different places, one of my favorite meatballs were from @meatballsforthepeople.

Served with mashed potatoes, veal gravy, preserved lingonberries and pickled cucumber, the meatballs were extremely juicy, tender, flavorful and comforting. I ordered the classic ones, made with a mix of beef and pork, but they have all kinds of options, including lamb, deer, moose and boar.

For starters, I could not resist ordering a portion of smoked reindeer hearts once I spotted it on the menu.

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Frantzén - Stockholm

The Stockholm food scene is booming. Capital of Sweden, a country that was previously not particularly known for its food, the city is a true gastronomic hotspot ready to be explored. And at the helm of everything is @restaurantfrantzen, a 3 Michellin starred restaurant that both deserves each and every star and at the same time is much more than any accolade could possibly show. Also where I had one of the best meals of my life.

Once you ring the entrance bell and take the elevator upstairs, your experience will start with snacks in their beautiful lounge, where ingredients of the day will be explained. After that and a tour of the restaurant, the rest of the experience takes place in the dining room, with a nice view to the open kitchen.

While service is impeccable and the place is both gorgeous and cozy, what truly stands out here is the food. It is hard to put everything into words here, so I will just name a few of my favorite courses and let the pictures speak for themselves. The french toast with grilled eel, green mustard and double marinated beef was definitely one of the highlights, as were the scallop crudo and the macaron with foie and grapefruit.

But strangely, the most impressive dish of all was a delicate and simple (yet so complex) onion soup with almonds. It was mind blowing. Onion soup will never be the same for me after this one.

Thank you so much @the.hungry.tourist and @sinan.the.hungry tourist for providing such an incredible day.

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It is common knowledge that Peruvian food goes well beyond ceviche. What most people don’t know, however, is that Pollo a la Brasa is one of the most traditional of all foods in Peru.

Simply put, Pollo a la Brasa is Peruvian style rotisserie roasted chicken. In Lima, “pollerías” can be found everywhere, each one of them with their own twist on the marinade that goes into the “pollo”. And the best one that I had was at @dontitoperu, following an indication from the great @migrationology.

There, chickens are placed whole on a spit, and it rotates in a circular motion as well as on their own axes.The result is extremely appetizing , with smoky notes from the charcoal and with a crunchy and nicely charred skin, but very juicy on the inside. It is served with mayonnaise and ají on the side, as well as a plate of salad and top notch french fries.

I went there on a Sunday night and the place was completely full, mostly by people who seemed to be regulars, with their families and kids. It is definitely a nice family restaurant that immediately made me imagine myself making it a tradition to finish off my weeks there as well in case I ever lived in this flavorful city.

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There is a saying that no food is as good as grandma’s. Well, neither of mine knew how to cook...But I can assume that whoever said it had someone like Dona Celia in the family. At 80 years old and with no signs of slowing down, she runs the show at Hotel Roma, in Porto Alegre.

Nearby the airport, this simple hotel holds on the ground floor a very special restaurant that in my opinion is not only one of the best in town, but also a national treasure.

Dona Celia is the person in charge of both the kitchen and service and I can assure you that she and the whole team will make you feel at home. Putting the food aside for a minute, because having a meal there goes way beyond the food in itself, you’ll feel welcomed and a positive energy all over the place.

The staff serve homemade food made with love and the impression that I had is that they’ve been working together for so long and with such joy that they’ve come to love one another. The result is that it is impossible to leave their table without a big smile on your face.

Having said that, we can now go into the food.

It all starts with a fresh plate of salad and then things escalate quickly and several different plates are put on the table, including rice, beans, gnocchi and beef ribs with cassava, both of which melt in your mouth like butter.

But the real magic happens on the rotating service of complimentary dishes. Thin slices of steak perfectly seasoned and served fresh off the griddle, as well as a tray of fritters that include their signature “bolinho” made with potatoes and filled with minced meat, and fried cabbage, my personal favorite.

Desserts are also very good, but it is hard to leave space for them, especially with Dona Celia coming by every now and then to insist that you eat a little bit more - just like loving grandmas usually do.

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@barmadrid is another incredible option around Tijuca. The place mixes Brazilian and Spanish food, given the heritage of the owner.

Most clients are seated on tables displayed along the sidewalk. And they all should promptly order a passion fruit “batida” to open up the appetite.

The pepper sauce of the house is made with the addition of a few Spanish spices into the mix, giving it a special touch.

Bar Madrid is the type of place to stay for many hours, but if you happen to be in a hurry, I would recommend not missing the tongue croquette, huevos rotos (fried eggs with french fries and jamón), and their special pastel, filled with scarlet eggplant and a sausage from Minas Gerais.

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@bardafrente quickly became one of my favorite botecos in Rio. It’s also pretty close to the Maracanã stadium, making it the perfect destination for a pre-game ritual if you are a soccer fan like myself.

So that’s where I decided to start the day before last year’s Copa do Brasil finals. And what a meal I had! We started things off with a few great fried snacks, including their famous Bolovo and the “porquinho de quimono”, which is a local creation that basically consists of fried harumaki dough filled with a mix of pork ribs and a creamy cheese.

After a long snack feast and a few beers, the main dishes did not disappoint either. Especially their gnocchi with roast meat and fried rice with sausage and eggs.

There is no better feeling than enjoying great food with my dad in such a special place. Well, other than flying back home with a 1x0 victory in the bag. That feeling is still unbeaten.

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@bardomomooficial is a carioca institution. And I could not choose another establishment to open my brief list of 3 botecos that I love in the Tijuca neighborhood.

Tijuca is probably my favorite district in Rio. Outside of the typical touristy route, this zone emanates a bohemian vibe, and is where some of the coolest “rodas de samba” can be found, alongside exceptional botecos on almost every street.

And no other place represents Tijuca as well as Bar do Momo. Situated in one of the most magical corners of the city, it is usually packed with people, who sit outside and enjoy an afternoon of drinks and great food with friends.

Anything ordered here will be well executed. But one of the must-order items is their flagship Bolinho de Arroz, or fried rice balls. Their version of this classic snack is made with 4 different types of cheese, to achieve the best possible levels of creaminess and flavor.

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@bardafrente quickly became one of my favorite botecos in Rio. It’s also pretty close to the Maracanã stadium, making it the perfect destination for a pre-game ritual if you are a soccer fan like myself.

So that’s where I decided to start the day before last year’s Copa do Brasil finals. And what a meal I had! We started things off with a few great fried snacks, including their famous Bolovo and the “porquinho de quimono”, which is a local creation that basically consists of fried harumaki dough filled with a mix of pork ribs and a creamy cheese.

After a long snack feast and a few beers, the main dishes did not disappoint either. Especially their gnocchi with roast meat and fried rice with sausage and eggs.

There is no better feeling than enjoying great food with my dad in such a special place. Well, other than flying back home with a 1x0 victory in the bag. That feeling is still unbeaten.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less

@bardomomooficial is a carioca institution. And I could not choose another establishment to open my brief list of 3 botecos that I love in the Tijuca neighborhood.

Tijuca is probably my favorite district in Rio. Outside of the typical touristy route, this zone emanates a bohemian vibe, and is where some of the coolest “rodas de samba” can be found, alongside exceptional botecos on almost every street.

And no other place represents Tijuca as well as Bar do Momo. Situated in one of the most magical corners of the city, it is usually packed with people, who sit outside and enjoy an afternoon of drinks and great food with friends.

Anything ordered here will be well executed. But one of the must-order items is their flagship Bolinho de Arroz, or fried rice balls. Their version of this classic snack is made with 4 different types of cheese, to achieve the best possible levels of creaminess and flavor.

(Versão em Português nos comentários) Less