SP Night Market is back this Saturday 5th April at Escola São Paulo. A great place to meet new friends, discover local chefs, enjoy some music and shop! The Facebook event page has more details
Monday, 31 March 2014
Children and coffee
Things that make you think
Last week my empregada told me that she was watching a report and the journalist said that children should drink one cup of coffee with milk (café com leite) every day. I couldn't think of anything worse to give to you kids on a daily basis (talking about legal substances here people!). A week later I'm now doubting myself - my initial reaction is that coffee is bad, it has too much caffeine so why would you want to give your kid something to make them more hyper! My empregada was arguing that it makes a child more alert and is good for brain development.
When I started to research it so I could give her facts I found alot of arguments for and against... and I want to follow my own sensible (?) reasoning but at the same time I've very wary to not sound like a condescending, egotistical, know-it-all gringa... and maybe it's me that's been the one brainwashed all my life?
My assistant today was telling me how her sister-in-law is beaten by her boyfriend on a regular basis, and she isn't allowed to work and have any friends. He's jealous and over-controlling. But it's okay because she loves him.
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Research has shown that 65.1% of Brazilians believe that if a woman dresses in revealing clothes she deserves to be raped. 65-f**king-percent?!?! This includes women who think other women deserve to be raped! Where am I living and in what day and age??! Read about this journalist's campaign here.
For further reading on the topc :We are 34.9%, and proud
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Last week my empregada told me that she was watching a report and the journalist said that children should drink one cup of coffee with milk (café com leite) every day. I couldn't think of anything worse to give to you kids on a daily basis (talking about legal substances here people!). A week later I'm now doubting myself - my initial reaction is that coffee is bad, it has too much caffeine so why would you want to give your kid something to make them more hyper! My empregada was arguing that it makes a child more alert and is good for brain development.
When I started to research it so I could give her facts I found alot of arguments for and against... and I want to follow my own sensible (?) reasoning but at the same time I've very wary to not sound like a condescending, egotistical, know-it-all gringa... and maybe it's me that's been the one brainwashed all my life?
Coffee is bad link
"In an interesting finding from Brazil, kids who drink coffee with milk are less likely to have depression than other children."Source
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My assistant today was telling me how her sister-in-law is beaten by her boyfriend on a regular basis, and she isn't allowed to work and have any friends. He's jealous and over-controlling. But it's okay because she loves him.
- - - - - - -
Research has shown that 65.1% of Brazilians believe that if a woman dresses in revealing clothes she deserves to be raped. 65-f**king-percent?!?! This includes women who think other women deserve to be raped! Where am I living and in what day and age??! Read about this journalist's campaign here.
For further reading on the topc :We are 34.9%, and proud
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Monday, 10 March 2014
Burger King in São Paulo
Don't eat there. The most popular Sao Paulo video this week has caught staff from Burger King on Faria Lima bathing in the water tanks... gross! Watch the video here
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Sound Gallery @Absolut Inn
Another SPNS networking night at Absolut Inn (Cartel011) in partnership with Yelp and Sound Gallery! An exhibition by Daniel Guarda, music by Sound Gallery
From 7pm to midnight, Rua Artur de Azevedo 517. Free Entry, first 80 "Yelpers" receive a free cocktail!
From 7pm to midnight, Rua Artur de Azevedo 517. Free Entry, first 80 "Yelpers" receive a free cocktail!
Indian Curry in São Paulo
Aside from Japanese food, good Asian cuisine is sorely lacking in this country. We have 2-3 good Chinese restaurants in Liberdade, one Korean restaurant in Vila Mariana and also our favourite favourite Samosa & Co. *They have a Dosa festival this Sunday night, 9 March
For most of my life I've lived in cities that have everything. Even though I'm Chinese I never had to learn to make fried rice or spring rolls.. until Sao Paulo, I had access to all my favourite foods literally within a one block radius. I have to say, London's selection of sushi though is appalling - maybe it's improved since the 4 years I've been away so São Paulo wins on the Japanese food.
Since living in São Paulo I have learnt to make all my favourite dishes, some of them even dishes I was forced to eat as a child and never even ate in New York or London, but suddenly have the desire because I can't get it here. Last night I made Indian food from scratch. Here's my adapted recipe from Mamta for Butter Dal if you need a break from brazilian beans. You can find Indian rice in most supermarkets, or I just use Raris 7 Grain.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Wash and soak the lentils for 1-2 hours, or even in the morning before you cook that night.
2. Put the lentils and cover with double amoung of water, ground fennel and turmeric into a pressure cooker (every Brazilian household has one!) and cook under full pressure for 20-30 minutes (depends on how long you have coked your dal for. Let cool and add salt to taste.
3. While the lentils are cooking you can prepare the tarka. Heat oil in a wok, add cumin seeds and it will start to splutter.
4. Add the chilli, ginger and garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
5. Add onions and fry until light brown. Add chopped tomatoes, chilli powder and garam masala and stir fry until you see the oil on top.
6. Add it to the cooked lentils and simmer for another 5 minutes
For serving add the yoghurt, and garnish with coriander leaves
Since living in São Paulo I have learnt to make all my favourite dishes, some of them even dishes I was forced to eat as a child and never even ate in New York or London, but suddenly have the desire because I can't get it here. Last night I made Indian food from scratch. Here's my adapted recipe from Mamta for Butter Dal if you need a break from brazilian beans. You can find Indian rice in most supermarkets, or I just use Raris 7 Grain.
Ingredients
- 500g lentils
- 1 Tablespoon grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons fennel seeds (erva doce)
- 1 teaspoon turmeric (or I use cumin / cominho)
Ingredients for tarka / tempering
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (or powder)
- 3 fresh chillies
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 3 medium tomatoes, finally chopped
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp Garam Masala (I bought mine in but you can buy from speciality supermarkets or from Bombay Spice in Sao paulo)
- 1 cup of thick yoghurt (for me only the greek yoghurt from Delicari does the job!)
- Chopped coriander leaves
Instructions
1. Wash and soak the lentils for 1-2 hours, or even in the morning before you cook that night.
2. Put the lentils and cover with double amoung of water, ground fennel and turmeric into a pressure cooker (every Brazilian household has one!) and cook under full pressure for 20-30 minutes (depends on how long you have coked your dal for. Let cool and add salt to taste.
3. While the lentils are cooking you can prepare the tarka. Heat oil in a wok, add cumin seeds and it will start to splutter.
4. Add the chilli, ginger and garlic and fry for 30 seconds.
5. Add onions and fry until light brown. Add chopped tomatoes, chilli powder and garam masala and stir fry until you see the oil on top.
6. Add it to the cooked lentils and simmer for another 5 minutes
For serving add the yoghurt, and garnish with coriander leaves
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