Ingredient appreciation — what makes Moqueca special

What sets Moqueca apart is the handling of black beans. In lesser versions this is treated as a background note. Here it's central and the smoky and umami-deep 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 Rio de Janeiro boteco bar 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, Moqueca is the place to start.