It is no secret that Londoners love South American food- not just eating it, but cooking it too. Whether it be the battle for the best Burrito in London (for us, its got to be Daddy Donkey near Farringdon- Lunchtime in the office regularly leaves us dreaming of the Carnitas Daddy D) or the newest exciting Brazilian street food stand- If you’ve got a hankering for some salsa and some spice, London pretty much has the answer.
After a more traditional taste? There is a whole bunch of really great independent deli’s, markets and Latin American grocers across London that source and sell traditional, specialist Artisan products. Our favourites have to include Empório São Paulo (Parson’s Green) and La Bodeguita (Elephant and Castle). Here you might pick up some traditional Brazilian Requeijão, a ricotta-like cheese with a creamy taste that’s great in salads, or Linguiça, a cured sausage similar to Chorizo. Or jump on the Victoria Line and head north to the Seven Sisters indoor market, where you can find an abundance of traditional Latin items produced by local native foodies and crafters. Be warned, this is not your average fruit and veg market; the Latin Salsa music blasting and the smells of spices and amazing food cooking will leave you wondering whether you really did make it to Brazil.
A taste of Latin London with be incomplete without a visit to one of the many independent Latin American restaurants across the capital. You can expect to be served anything from a huge variety of dishes; from Feijoada, a stew made from black beans and cured meats that has widely been considered to be Brazil’s national dish, to flavour fusions that mix Traditional British food with a Latino twist, London pretty much has everything. We love the menu at Prima Dona in Brixon, which is based on traditional Brazilian street food (plus its right next to the Kitchen Table Projects office so its a perfect lunchtime treat!) We also think that it really great how John Rattagan, the chef at the Buen Ayre (Hackney) draws on his experiences living in Buenos Aires and uses the techniques in his cooking that he learnt whilst living there, such as the art of the asado (the Latin equivalent of a BBQ). Camden has its own quirky offerings; both Coco Bamboo and Made in Brasil offer great menus as well as a tasty take on the Brazilian favourite Caipirinha Cocktail. But if you seriously know your cocktails then Cocobananas, a Brazilian Beach shack in the South of London, is the place for you to head- plus they’ll be showcasing the football live from huge screens if you’re keen to stay updated on all the action.
There’s also some great one off events happening around the city as well. Another great place to enjoy the party is at Boteco Brasil in Soho. This gigantic party will immerse you in Brazilian culture by not only showcasing the football, but will also host cookery and cocktail classes, Brazilian martial arts and samba demonstrations, as well as live music. Or if you’re really serious about getting into the Brazilian spirit and learning about their culture, then why not book yourself into one of Jenius Social’s special World Cup cookery classes and learn to cook, as well as eating, great authentic Latin American cuisine.
So whether you’re a football fan who is keen to embrace the spirit of the event, or just someone looking for a slice of Latin culinary culture, make sure to support these great independent artisans, makers and producers to experience food which not only tastes amazing, but tells a great local story, too.
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