Hey all! My name is Yọmi. It has been quite the adventure adjusting to life here in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. I have moved into my apartment and have adjusted to life here. Rio Grande do Sul has many amazing attributes, but one of my favorites is the food. In Brazil, in general, there are lots of buffets. I have been enjoying the local buffets in the area. You pile as much food on your plate as you want, and then they weigh it. You pay by the kilogram. The buffets, the local restaurants and the food trucks here all have amazing things to offer.
There are three local dishes that I would like to talk about:
1. Chimarrão: This is one of the most distinctive parts of the culture of Rio Grande do Sul. You may have actually heard of it before. If you have Argentinian friends, you have probably heard of Mate. This is a hot drink rich in caffeine that is made by soaking yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) leaves in hot water. What many don't know is that Argentina is not the only country where people drink Mate. In Southern Brazil, people drink it everyday, but primarily refer to it as Chimarrão. It tastes very grassy, and is definitely an acquired taste for people who aren't from the region. However, don't you dare put sugar in it!
