Ingredient appreciation — what makes Acarajé special

What sets Acarajé apart is the handling of dende palm oil. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the robust and filling result shows it. I've started buying it to cook with at home after this experience.

Brazilian cuisine reflects indigenous, Portuguese, and African culinary heritages in equal measure. The a São Paulo padaria atmosphere was right for this kind of food. I had guaraná Antarctica as recommended and it matched well. If you want to understand what makes this cuisine distinctive, Acarajé is the place to start.