My first visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was a short but tasty one. The main purpose of the trip was to get to know my brother in law’s family which didn’t leave much time for sightseeing but we wasted no time to start bonding, laughing and eating! Getting absorbed in a new culture, meeting new people and trying new food is my sort of trip. We snuck in a couple of tourist attractions including a visit to Christ of the Redeemer statue (make your way there in time to catch the sunset and witness an amazing array of colors). But this post is not about heavenly views or attractions…it’s about the heavenly food found in and around Rio.

My first meal was a dish lovingly prepared for my family by my brother in law’s mom. What can be more welcoming than being greeted with a smile and home-cooked dinner?

The next day we started the morning off right by stopping at one of Rio’s popular juice stands. My favorite was Suco de Maracuja (passion fruit juice).

No trip to Rio is complete without a visit to the beach (this was taken at Ipanema) and all of that fun in the sun is sure to build up an appetite…

…which is not a problem when you can easily find “Salgadinhos” sold in just about every corner of Rio. These savory bites range from fried pastries filled with cheese to shredded chicken and other fillings:

Kids if you’re watching don’t play with your food – until you get to be an immature adult like me!

If you’re feeling jet-lagged like I was, wash it all down with a soft drink made with Guaraná fruit. It’ll provide a temporary energy boost and it tastes good too.

And just because I’m a sucker for Watermelon…I couldn’t say no to this:

After some freshening up, it’s time for more food! Not just any food – Churrasco. Meat that is expertly grilled and simply (but perfectly) seasoned with coarse sea salt:

End the night with a VERY CHILLED  local draft beer:

Before packing up to return home, don’t forget to buy some snacks for your plane ride back:

Hope you enjoyed this post. Now wipe that drool off of your face and start planning your trip to Rio!