Last week on Friday’s Featured Food I wrote about the Taiwanese hot pot as voted by viewers of the Don’t Stop Living Facebook Page. This week I thought I’d feature the runner up, so we’re back in Recife Brazil. After yesterday’s Thirsty Thursdays from Sao Paulo it’s the second Brazilian article in a row. In 2011, I ended up in the city of Recife, pronounced Hess Eaf Eh (if you’re Northern Irish).
Katia and I partying in Recife, Brazil
In 2007 when backpacking in France, I met Katia Alves in a hostel in Paris. She was from Recife and I always planned to head there to visit her. So 2011 it was. After a night out in Olinda, a visit to the Black Tuesday music night and a party in Recife, it was time to see Recife beach and seafront. I was hanging out with Katia’s son Rodrigo and his mates. They suggested a sea front restaurant near the beach for lunch and beers called Alphaiate so off we went. I just decided to try something on the menu I had never had before.
Alphaiate Restaurant, Recife, Brazil
Despite backpacking through Taiwan and China, I couldn’t remember an exact moment when I tried octopus. I was sure I’d had calamary and squid, but I opted for the octopus curry here.
Downtown Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
Alphaiate Restaurant, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
The Alphaiate restaurant seemed quite swanky but then again Brazil can fool you all the time. When I glance back at the menu now, I can’t help but think that it was dear back then. I mean, during the World Cup of 2014, I was paying similar prices for my beer and food. I’m glad I took some menu photos to compare.
Restaurant menu at Alphaiate
Restaurant menu at Alphaiate
Sometimes I forget to take photos of the food menu and the prices and on this occasion I only took photos of the beer prices so I have no idea on the price of my octopus curry, we’ll guess at around 15 Reals. I was making notes in my travel notebooks of course but I didn’t write the price in it. The curry arrived with some ice cold beers and I got stuck in.
Friday’s Featured Food: Octopus Curry in Recife, Brazil
But I took a photo of the food and it had octopus through the curry and possibly other types of seafood too. Brazilians are superb at covering up a crap food to make it taste good and spicy. Without doubt the spice made this meal what it was as I devoured it! I kept thinking that I wouldn’t like octopus on it’s own.
The whitest and skinniest man on Recife Beach!
So thanks to Rodrigo and his friends for taking me to try the Octopus curry. The strangest thing for me is that I haven’t eaten Octopus since, and this was 4 and a half years ago now! Safe travels.
Ahhhh, meu Recife Lindo! The city that sealed the deal on my love and commitment to Brasil.
The first time seeing Recife was from the air, and an airport connection–that alone was enough for me to decide I wanted to live there. Something about the emerald waters and high rises on the beach…and all that sunshine!
I moved to Recife (from the US) in 2007 and ended up buying a place there. You’re invited next time you come back!
And as for octopus–my first time eating it was in Brasil too!
Hi R Dub, thanks for the comment. Yes I loved Recife too and I was reminiscing on it recently. In terms of articles, I’m well behind so I’m trying to catch myself up! Safe travels, Jonny