Opened in 2015 in a 120-year-old Victorian on Larchmere Boulevard, Batuqui is more than a Brazilian steakhouse. Hailing from Bahia and Minas Gerais, regions renowned for their culinary prowess, Carla Batista and Gustavo Nogueira present traditional flavors like feijoada ($38), a quintessential black bean stew; pao de queijo ($11.50), cheese bread from Minas Gerais; and the national cocktail, caipirinha ($11). “Cooking is a cherished family legacy,” says Batista. 12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland; 17 E Orange St., Chagrin Falls, batuquicleveland.com
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Hanger steak. No, Batuqui is not just a steakhouse, but it has perfected flame-grilled churrascaria, a skewered barbecue style originally used fireside by gauchos on the plains of the Rio Grande do Sul. The churrasco de picanha ($44) is a tri-tip sirloin that comes hanging vertically on a hook as the juices drip down.
Orange crush. Moqueca baiana ($29-$39), one of the most traditional dishes from Brazil’s African-influenced Bahia region, is a bright, coconut-creamy stew of tomato, onions, cilantro, rice and palm oil. You can get it with meat or seafood, but the vegan version, topped with banana frita ($29) does just fine.
Bigger table. We’re sad to hear that Batuqui is leaving its cozy Larchmere home. Luckily, its new spot is the 1922-built former St. Paul’s Evangelical with stained glass windows and tall ceilings that will expand seating from 32 to 110. The project is set to be completed by the end of the year.
Wasted away. Similar to a mojito, caipirinha are the unofficial beverage of Brazil. If you’re laying on a beach in Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo, you’re likely to be approached by a man with a cart offering to muddle lime, sugar, mint and cachaca or rum.
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