I recently went to Brazil, and we arrived in Sao Paulo on a Saturday. That's the day that Brazilians typically eat the traditional stew with meat and black beans called feijoada, so our friends took us to a local's favorite place to indulge.

Consulado Mineiro is a total local's joint and was packed. People milled around on the street outside with a capirinha while they waited for a table. The restaurant is on a square which at weekends is an antiques and souvenirs market, so a stroll around looking at old books in Portuegues and records and random jewelry and knick knacks while you wait isn't unpleasant.

The wait was long, but worth it. The feijoada was hot, rich and simply delicious. Originally the food the slaves ate - a mismash of old meat cuts and the inexpensive black bean, it is traditionally served with rice, a green cabbage of sorts and some form of crumbled manioc powder thingy.

Totally delicious, and the folks running the place couldn't have been nicer. Quite the Saturday afternoon scene!

Consulado Mineiro
PCA Benedito Calixto, 74
CEP 05406-040, Pinheiros, SP, Brasil