Pão do Queijo

 

I'd like to take a moment to talk about one type food here which I believe to be sent from the heavens.  Called Pão do Queijo, it is really high up on my list of my favorite things in Brasil. My first encounter with this delicious cheese-bread was in the airport in Sao Paulo, during my eight hour layover.  I went up to a little restaurant in the airport and tried my best to explain that I was a vegetarian and wanted to know if there were any vegetarian sandwiches sold there.  There was of, course, a menu, but in all honesty I understood almost nothing written on it.  The woman working there looked at me strangely and shook her head.  I scanned the menu again and say "Salada de Frutas" and figured that was a safe bet.     When I ordered she asked if I wanted something else and I said no, but then she pointed and this innocent looking piece of bread in the display case and asked if I wanted this.  "Umm, sim!"  Why not, right?  Little did I know that she was introducing me to my new best friend.

A week or so later, my first host family discovered my love of this perfect piece of heaven and we made it many, many times in large quantities.

It appears harmless, just your basic bread.  But then you take the first bite and the hot, crisp outside gives way to a steaming, cheesy-doughy middle and you fall head of heels in calorie-filled love.

After I expressed my concern to my host sister about what I was going to do when I got back to the United States and was left without (one of our solutions was to buy a thermos bag and take a huge stash), my first host mom taught me how to make it.  I now can sleep in peace.