We’re
all familiar with the Argentine-Italian culinary connection, but
Brazilian-Italian? That’s a twist for some of us here in Miami. Pizza topped
with Brazilian calabrese? Coxinhas made with rice to resemble arancini? Carne seca lasagna? Yes, Virginia, there’s a new kind of exotic in
town.
It
doesn’t seem strange to Carolina Moura, owner of Carol’s Cucina & Vino, a
downtown Miami fusion spot that at first glance appears Italian until you spot
the Brazil peeking through. Raised in Miami, Moura is the product of an Italian
mother and a Brazilian father and she’s serving the food she ate growing up.
In
fact, she notes, Brazilian and Italian cuisine have much in common. Both
comprise dishes that utilize only a handful of ingredients at a time. Both
appreciate farm-to-table concepts. Both desire to promote only handmade
products. Thus the pasta, bread, bufala mozzarella – even the whiskey-flavored brigadeiros – are made in house.
Moreover,
Moura is well aware that Brazil has the second largest Italian population
outside of the boot itself. And given that Brazilian expats make up a good
portion of Miami, we’re willing to bet that Carol’s Cucina, with one blackboard
wall advertising specials (feijoada
on Saturday afternoons is one) and another filled with Italian wine, is less out
of the ordinary and more comforting and familiar. Indeed, judging by the crowds
that have already found this cozy, clean-lined bistro, it seems that’s exactly
the case.