Busy Day

October 10, 2013 Hashim Uncategorized

Today I finally had Arroz e Feijão I’ve heard about this dish not shortly after I arrived. Before you feel the need to translate it’s Rice and Beans – served with fries and a side filet. Nilson ordered the pork (pigie says Nilson) – his friend ordered the chicken (Frango) and I had the steak (bife filet). The rice is like sticky rice that you would get at your local asian/Thai/Sushi restaurant, if the rice is cooked correctly it’s relatively dry but has a adhesive quality. The beans are regular red or pinto beans (i’m not up on my bean game) cooked in sausage and other pork parts with a bit of cilantro. The rice, fries and filet are served on a metal plate while the beans are served in it’s own bowl with an extra large spoon for you to mix with the rice as you see fit.

After that I hung out with my English Teacher Niea (Nilson’s sister) who is an architect – we visited a few homes and a gas station she’d designed all were in the process of being built. The gas station was at the very start of construction. The homes were very nice, I should have brought my camera. Three bedroom Condo with marble steps leading into the house, the steps leading up stairs and the entire bottom floor. There were Condos being built across the street and behind those condo’s . . . . . a favela.

After visiting the construction sites,  going to a coffee shop (they always drink coffee after business) and hitting the gym, I had my second english lesson where my teacher tried to mentally beat me up!! She wanted me to only speak in portuguese the entire time about an online dating article she had me read at the start of class. I know how to say online in portuguese!!! LOL It was fun she’s fun and we spent at least an hour going over the difference between cheep and chip. She can pronounce ‘chip’ with no issues . . . she can say “E” she can even pronounce ‘Chee’ but put a P on the end of that and it becomes CHIP!! Her husband Paulino (SP?) said correct the first time and every time after. He helped me describe the difference to Niea, who by the way like to say ‘very nice’ I’ll have to record it she sounds like a female Borat!

They are both really sweet and Paulino is a cook he mad a fabulous dinner – Steak, rice, beans, with Mashed Potatoes with mashed carrots and cheese. He also served big wedges of lettuce with a sauce that had some types of seeds. He instructed me to take the sauce pour some in a wedge fold it and eat. It was DELICIOUS!! The sauce was a vinegar, oil, balsamic mix. Even though there was no balsamic it tasted strong and just a touch sweet. It was delicious, everything was good.