Oklahoma City KEY - Cover Story

Café do Brasil is owned and operated by Ana Davis. In the restaurant business since 1994, Ana delivers an authentic Brazilian dining experience within several blocks of downtown hotels and popular tourist attractions such as the National Memorial and the Museum of Art.

Brazilian cuisine reflects the diversity of the country’s inhabitants. A Portuguese colony until the 1880’s, most of Brazilian culture derives from Portugal. Like the United States, Brazil’s economy relied heavily on African slaves until the country banned slavery in the late 19th Century. Today, Brazil’s cuisine and inhabitants are influenced by both cultures. Brazil also experienced an influx of European and Japanese immigrants in the early 20th Century. Interestingly, Brazil has the second largest Italian and Japanese populations outside of their respective countries. Visitors to Café do Brasil will find an intriguing mix of cultures embodied in its various entrees.

Guests can begin by ordering cachaca, the Brazilian national drink. Cachaca is made from sugar cane, one of Brazil’s earliest agricultural exports. The fiery, clear-flavored drink dates back over 400 years. Add freshly squeezed limes and sugar, and you have a refreshing drink called a Caipirinha. Patrons may prefer to order the Reserva Miolo, an imported Brazilian wine, while watching the sunset on the restaurant’s second-floor patio.

For an appetizer, diners may want to try the Mexilhao A Carioca, featuring succulent large half-shell mussels, prepared in a wonderful leek (garden herb), garlic, butter, white wine, and watercress sauce. Another popular appetizer is the Perfect Martine Ceviche, consisting of shrimp, tilapia, pineapple chunks and vinaigrette, perfectly marinated in a lime and gold Cuervo Tequila sauce.

For their main course, patrons might select Brazil’s National Dish, called Feijoada. A rich stew of black beans, sausage, and pork meat, Feijoada is served with collared greens, rice, sweet orange slices, and farofa (ground yuka roasted with garlic and butter). Guests seeking a seafood entree may want to try the Moqueca A Baiana. Served in a stone pot with rice and pirao bahiano (fish broth yuka puree), this bahiana style stew is prepared in a blend of palm oil and coconut milk, with fresh cilantro, tomatoes, onions, scallions, and green peppers. The Moquec A Baiana comes with fish, shrimp, squid, mussels, or scallops.

Café do Brasil is located at 440 N.W. 11th Street, one block north of 10th & Walker. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast and brunch are served Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Café do Brasil can be reached at 405-525-9779.

This website designed, hosted and maintained for KEY of Oklahoma, Inc. by

...when it's time to establish an Internet presence.