Brazilian BBQ Tomorrow

[Eva]

My husband's friend is having a bunch of people over for a barbeque tomorrow, and I told Carlos (the husband) I would just bring some food of my own to eat. He says, "No way. That's rude. People will talk."

Is that true? Since when is it rude to bring food to a barbeque? Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

I'm thinking that if I just bring enough to share, it's actually nice rather than rude. I'd still love the input, though.

[RowanC]

I don't think it's rude at all.

Hey, I have a suggestion! I'm Portuguese and we love garlic!

If you slice some nice ripe tomatoes and lay them on a plate, then dice fresh garlic really really fine and sprinkle it over the tomatoes, then salt lightly, it is SCRUMPTIOUS!

You make this up a few hours ahead so the flavors can mingle.
It's a wonderful easy potluck dish! Especially for a bunch of Brazilians!

[Crisyn]

I don't think it would be rude to bring your own food to eat. It's a casual BBQ, not a fine dining restaurant.
I agree with RowanC, it would be a great idea to bring something to the BBQ that you can eat, but will also please the other guests. That way they may be talking, but it will just be about how great you are!

[EastCoastie]

Hi Eva,

How about a big, beautiful field green salad with some big mango chunks, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro and red onion with a fresh raw dressing? Salads always go great at bbq's.

EC

[hypnocmt]

I think as long as you bring the dish as if to share...you should be fine. Maybe bring two so you can eanjoy a variety. People seem to really be open to raw desserts, and are almost always fascinated, asking for recipes after tasting them etc.:D

[Pierre]

Brazilians, at least the ones I met in Minas, love smoothies. So get some oranges, mangos, bananas, abacaxi, morangos, and, if you can find them, maracujá, acerola, and açaí, freeze 3/4 of them, and blend up a storm!

[Eva]

I think I will definitely bring one or two goodies with me!

Pierre! I knew you'd respond to this one, I just saw your response on one of my posts from a few days ago. Carlos is from Sao Paulo, we even have a house (which is empty :/) there with LOTS of nice big fruit trees. I could probably make one of those smoothies if I were there right now! :) Aside from all those darn barbeques, I think raw would be a piece of cake there!

[RawCutter]

whenever my Brazilian friends did a BBQ they would make a really chunky salsa of avocado, onion, tomatoes, peppers (both sweet and hot), garlic, lime juice and sea salt ... All raw. It went really well with the steaks they made. They also made a drink in a blender (Creme de abacate) using avocado, milk and sugar. They would whip it in a blender until frothy. The drink is not raw but im sure you could replace ingredients to make it so. Maybe a nut milk and some honey. They also would make a version with no milk, just avocado, lime and sugar.

... and every BBQ i've been to or thrown, people bring stuff. It wasn't rude and the only thing 'people talked' about was how good everything was.

a couple more recipes I found that go well with a Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ)

Salada de Cebola (Onion Salad)
2 large onions

Peel the onions and slice them into very thin slices. Separate the slices into rings. Place the onions in a bowl and cover them with ice cubes and water. Refrigerate for 2 hours. The alternative used by my friends in Bahia is to sprinkle the slices with sugar (2 Tbsp) and refrigerate for 2 hours. Both methods have worked for me.

When you are ready to serve them, drain the onion slices and rinse under cold water. Serve them in a glass bowl, drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, and sprinkled with salt and freshly ground pepper.

* instead of red wine vinegar use apple cider vinegar


Molho apimentado (Hot sauce)
Basic recipe for molho à campanha:

1 large onion, minced
2 medium-size firm, ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 small green bell pepper, cored, seeded and minced
¼ cup vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt to taste

Mix all ingredients. Add water if the vinegar taste is too strong. Just before serving add ½ cup of feijoada liquid and 1 or 2 finely chopped malagueta peppers.

* I haven't had malagueta peppers or feijoada but Im sure you can substitute others depending on how hot you what to make it. feijoada is the vinegar liquid from pickled peppers.



or maybe a chayote salad, chayote with some apple cider vinegar

or a raw ice cream made with tangerines or coconut or passion fruit with cashews, cocoa nibs, pistachios and sweet corn

or this is something that is a japanese recipe but will work here as well. Orange sections "pickled' in honey. peel the orange (i prefer satsuma) so that the sections are individual and do not have a membrane around them. place them in a jar and cover them with honey. They only need to sit for 1/2 a day. * they also do this with garlic. Both are classic tsukemono

or how about a big batch of good ole' limeaide (Caipirinha), coconut drinks (batida de coco), or mango smoothies

[Eva]

RawCutter:
I didn't even think of a good dip, that's a nice idea...

I wonder what I would dip in it, though!? I don't know if there are any raw crackers around, and I don't have a dehydrator. Maybe just lettuce?

Yeah, my husband makes (used to make, really, I LOVED them so I'd ask him to make it all the time, but it has milk) that same avocado smoothie. I told him we're going to start making them again when I leard how to make almond milk. mmmm.

He saw that I posted here when he was standing over my shoulder a few minutes ago. I read him my post. He thinks I'm silly. I think he maybe had a picture in his head of me bringing a large beautiful salad big enough for... ME. :) Others definitely have brought stuff, but it's usually large quantities of raw meat and beer, not raw veggie dips and lettuce!

[RawCutter]

my brazilians would put the salsa on their steaks

but you? yea, maybe a cracker or something. I would just eat it with a spoon its so good. or maybe without the spoon.

[Eva]

Grrrr...

Carlos asked me what "the people on the computer" wanted me to do. I told him the ideas, and I was really excited, and then he brought up the last dinner we went to about a month ago.

Our (his that we have full custody of) kids do not drink soda and other processed crap drinks, but he does not want them to seem "different" or "weird" so they have that stuff when there are other Brazilians around. I do limit it to the one drink, though, and when Carlinhos was handed a second cola, I discreetly split it in half with him a few minutes later (with more in my cup, which I actually had no intention of drinking). Carlos found this to be embarrassing (?!), and shot me the look of death, then proceeded to tell me (also somewhat discreetly) that he didn't appreciate that etc. I ended up with a sour look on my face which I could not hide, and we all left "early."

Now I'm not even really invited to the barbeque anymore because he's being an a#* about it. He can be such a pig.

By the way, about all the processed crap and his kids... Before, when he was allowed to drink that stuff, Yan's (the other guy!) teachers kept trying to force him onto Ritalin. Now his teachers tell me how much better he's doing in school all the time (of course, now that he lives with us, he does go to school and do his homework, so that has also surely helped). He also didn't used to eat raw fruits and vegetables ever, which I had to fight with his dad to force the kids to eat the stuff. Now they like 'em. It's also been a fight with my jewel of a husband (which I've won) to get that stuff on their plates every day. Like it's sooo horrible to see! Why is that even a fight!?

Maybe I'll just sit at home eating all these tasty ideas.

And I'm sorry to take this post so far off topic. It actually was really nice to put all of this frustration in words, though. Hope you all don't mind!

[RawCutter]

Grrrr...

Carlos asked me what "the people on the computer" wanted me to do. I told him the ideas, and I was really excited, and then he brought up the last dinner we went to about a month ago.

Our (his that we have full custody of) kids do not drink soda and other processed crap drinks, but he does not want them to seem "different" or "weird" so they have that stuff when there are other Brazilians around. I do limit it to the one drink, though, and when Carlinhos was handed a second cola, I discreetly split it in half with him a few minutes later (with more in my cup, which I actually had no intention of drinking). Carlos found this to be embarrassing (?!), and shot me the look of death, then proceeded to tell me (also somewhat discreetly) that he didn't appreciate that etc. I ended up with a sour look on my face which I could not hide, and we all left "early."

Now I'm not even really invited to the barbeque anymore because he's being an a#* about it. He can be such a pig.

By the way, about all the processed crap and his kids... Before, when he was allowed to drink that stuff, Yan's (the other guy!) teachers kept trying to force him onto Ritalin. Now his teachers tell me how much better he's doing in school all the time (of course, now that he lives with us, he does go to school and do his homework, so that has also surely helped). He also didn't used to eat raw fruits and vegetables ever, which I had to fight with his dad to force the kids to eat the stuff. Now they like 'em. It's also been a fight with my jewel of a husband (which I've won) to get that stuff on their plates every day. Like it's sooo horrible to see! Why is that even a fight!?

Maybe I'll just sit at home eating all these tasty ideas.

And I'm sorry to take this post so far off topic. It actually was really nice to put all of this frustration in words, though. Hope you all don't mind!


Its a Brazilian BBQ. These are Brazilian recipes. How would they look different eating Brazilian recipes at a Brazilian BBQ?

its not like you're talking corned beef to thanksgiving

and who the F cares what other people think.

[carolg]

Go and don't let your hubby influence a great opportunity of fun and your great food suggestions you can make to bring along. Don't tell them it's raw. Just say you wanted to bring a dish to share with everyone. I'm sure people will love it.

Let us know.

My husband never comes by the computer as he can't even type and doesn't want to either. Enjoy and let us know how it goes!

Carolg

[spicyfull]

When in doubt, call the Host and ask her about bringing Something...Always eat before you go.....just in case.

[carolg]

Any updates to the BBQ?????? Patiently waiting to see how it all went but in suspense mode still.

carolg

[Conscious Midwife]

My husband's friend is having a bunch of people over for a barbeque tomorrow, and I told Carlos (the husband) I would just bring some food of my own to eat. He says, "No way. That's rude. People will talk."

Is that true? Since when is it rude to bring food to a barbeque? Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

I'm thinking that if I just bring enough to share, it's actually nice rather than rude. I'd still love the input, though.


All of my friends from other countries think that it is most definately rude to bring stuff. I've been told that "potlucking is an American thing". The folks I know, mostly Nigerian and Egyptian, desire to be the hostest with the mostest. They take special pride in laying out a grand spread and throwing a party that folks talk about for days.

Just eat ahead or ask the host/ hostess if they'd like you to come by early and help!!!

Are you children old enough to receive a clear directive on what not to eat before they arrive? Brief and debrief, fill them up before hand and have a special raw desert waiting when you return home.

Good Luck:D

[monkeyboy]

Yo,

I don't know how Brazilians feel about Chile, but I say bring some wine from the Andes and catch a buzz while your husband's friends talk about soccer all night.


Peace,

M.B.

[RawCutter]

Yo,

I don't know how Brazilians feel about Chile, but I say bring some wine from the Andes and catch a buzz while your husband's friends talk about soccer all night.


Peace,

M.B.

for Chilean wine may I suggest Root 1 (~12.99) or Los Vascos (~12.99)

[RawCutter]

so what happened?

[Sharon in Colorado]

All of my friends from other countries think that it is most definately rude to bring stuff. I've been told that "potlucking is an American thing". The folks I know, mostly Nigerian and Egyptian, desire to be the hostest with the mostest. They take special pride in laying out a grand spread and throwing a party that folks talk about for days.



I think you are right. I've been invited to dinner at a Korean house, and was instructed to "only bring my appetite" Although I did bring a small salad for myself and hid it in the kitchen, lol. I also brought a host/ess gift. I feel like I can't "not" bring something when invited somewhere.

[luckitri]

I have the idea that other cultures have longterm ideas about food combining and ambience that those of us immersed only in in our short western history are ignorant of and we can easily bring something offensive when we only have the best intentions. Certain communities welcome all additions and find room for everything.