Category Archives: Rio de Janeiro

Rio’s best restaurants in 2014

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4225014507_d83849c1f8_zWeekly news magazine, Veja, has published its annual list of the best restaurants and bars in Rio de Janiero. The choice is made both by a specially chosen jury of experts as well as the votes of the readers of Veja Rio.

Here is Veja’s selection with the official jury choice listed first, and the public’s choice second. You will note they do not always agree!

RESTAURANTS

Asian: Mee / Sawasdee Bistrô

6922686268_6296c56fba_zBrazilian: Roberta Sudbrack / Aprazível (photo)

Buffet: Celeiro / Ráscal

Cheap and Cheerful: Botequim / Gutessen Café e Restaurante

Contemporary: Laguiole / Quadrucci

Dessert: Oro / Demi-glace

4187733709_0fc4bc2874_zFrench: Olympe (photo) / CT Brasserie

Italian: Gero / CT Trattorie

Japanese: Sushi Leblon / Manekineko

Meat: Giuseppe Grill / Outback Steakhouse

Meat – Barbecue Rodízio: Fogo de Chão / Fogo de Chão

Pizza: Capricciosa / Bráz

Seadfood: Satyricon / Satyricon

Special set Menu: Irajá / Irajá

Also voted for were:

Chef of the Year: Pedro de Artagão (Irajá) / Claude Troisgros (Olympe, CT Boucherie, CT Trattorie, CT Brassserie)

Upcoming Chef: Rafael Costa e Silva, (Lasai) / Fred Barroso (Le Vin Bistrô)

Restaurateur of the Year: Marcelo Torres (Best Fork) / Claude Troisgros (Grupo Troisgros)

Cecília Aldaz, of Oro was voted sommelier of the year; Aprazível had the best wine list; Bazzar was elected best wine bar; and the best wine store was Mistral.

BARS

Balcony / Stand Up: Adega Pérola / Adega Pérola

9733863166_4e12718102_zBeer / Chope: Botto Bar / Botto Bar (photo)

Beer List: Delirium / Aconchego Carioca

“Bolinhos”: Aconchego Carioca / Aconchego Carioca

Boteco: Momo / Aconchego Carioca

Drinks List: Paris Bar / Complex Esquina 111

Food: Cachambeer / Adelos

Gastrobar: Pipo / Complex Esquina 111

For couples: Bar Veloso /Complex Esquina 111

Music: Godofredo Rio / Botto Bar

View: Bar do Alto / Bar Urca (photo)

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FOOD

Bread: La Bicyclette / Boulangerie Guerin

Breakfast: Empório Jardim / Empório Jardim

“Brigadeiro” (sweets): Fabiana D’Angelo / Colher de Pau

Cake: Café Sorelle / The Bakers

Chocolate: Q / Kopenhagen

4189567301_7187531f2b_z“Coxinha” (croquettes): Da Gema / Confeitaria Colombo (photo)

Éclair: Guerin / Kurt

Hamburger: Comuna / Reserva T.T. Burger

Ice Cream: Vero / Venchi

Juices: Jaeé / BB Lanches

 

Rio 2016 announces ticket prices for Olympic Games

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ticketsTicket prices for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have been announced – and more than half of them will be sold at accessible prices in order to ensure that the event is open to everyone. About 7.5 million tickets will be issued and approximately 3.8 million of these will be available for 70 Brazilian reais (US$30) or less. For the price ranges (in Brazilian reais) for all sports and ceremonies CLICK HERE. Or click on the images below.

Currently (16 September), R$10 is worth about US$4.30, €3.30 or £2.60.

There will be tickets for 717 sports sessions, covering all 28 Olympic sports, plus the opening and closing ceremonies. The range of prices the organizers say is designed to make tickets as affordable as possible, with the goal of ensuring that the local Brazilian population has the opportunity to attend events. The cheapest ticket will be priced at 40 Brazilian reais (less than US$20).

The full Rio 2016 Olympic Games Ticket Sales Programme will be unveiled in November 2014, along with the competition schedule and details on how the public can buy tickets.
The next step on the spectator’s journey towards participating in the first Olympic Games to be staged in South America will come in November. Fans from all over the world will be able to register on the ticket sales website and indicate which sports are of  interest to them. They will then receive tailored news and information on these sports and athletes, as well as other events around the Games, as anticipation builds towards 2016.

Brazilian residents will be able to enter the first of two draws for tickets in March 2015. Non-Brazilian residents will be able to apply to buy tickets in their own territories in the first half of 2015 (details will be announced on the ticket sales website at a later date) and then again in January 2016, in the worldwide first-come-first-served online sales phase.

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Rio Olympic Village takes shape

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As these photos show, the Olympic Village for the 2106 Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro is starting to take shape.

The Village is being built on what was the city’s motor racing circuit in Barra da Tijuca (top photo). The circuit held its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1978, and then held the Brazilian Grand Prix every year between 1981 and 1990.

The new space will not only house the athletes village but also a number of the sports.

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Top Latin American Restaurants 2014

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Screen Shot 2014-09-05 at 14.52.22Virgilio Martinez’s Central, in Lima, Peru, has taken the top spot amongst Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2014 with last year’s winner Astrid y Gaston moving into second place. Central, which earned the title of The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Latin America, climbed three places from last year. Central, under the leadership of chef-owner Martinez, was also named The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Peru.

Gaston Acurio, who recently opened La Mar in Miami and relocated his 20 year old flagship restaurant Astrid y Gaston to San Isidro, Lima was number two on the list. The 2013 winner was also ranked No.18 in this year’s S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.

D.O.M. and Maní, both in Sao Paolo Brazil, were ranked in third and fourth place respectively. Chilean restaurant Boragó was placed fifth. Boragó and D.O.M. were presented with The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Chile and The S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Brazil awards respectively.

Other Best Restaurant Awards by country were given to: Pujol in Mexico (No.6 in the list); Tegui in Argentina (No.9); Parador La Huella in Uruguay (No.17); Alto in Venezuela (No.18); Gustu in Bolivia (No.32); and Criterion in Colombia (No.39).

As well as the top restaurant awards, individual awards were also presented during the event. The One To Watch Award went to Ambrosía from Chile; the Veuve Clicquot Latin America’s Best Female Chef Award was presented to Elena Reygadas from Rosetta, Mexico; the Highest Climber Award, went to El Baqueano in Argentina; the Highest New Entry Award, sponsored went to Tarquino also in Argentina; The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Alex Atala from D.O.M., Brazil; and the Chefs’ Choice Award went to Peru’s Gastón Acurio. The 2014 awards introduced a new category: Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef, which was presented to Buenos Aires-based chef Osvaldo Gross.

Here’s are Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants according to the awards:

1. Central Lima, Peru
2. Astrid y Gastón Lima, Peru
3. D.O.M. São Paulo, Brazil
4. Maní São Paulo, Brazil
5. Boragó Santiago, Chile
6. Pujol Mexico City, Mexico
7. Maido Lima, Peru
8. Biko Mexico City, Mexico
9. Tegui Buenos Aires, Argentina
10. Quintonil Mexico City, Mexico
11. Malabar Lima, Peru
12. Mocoto São Paulo, Brazil
13. Roberta Sudbrack Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
14. Aramburu Buenos Aires, Argentina
15. La Mar Lima, Peru
16. Tarquino Buenos Aires, Argentina
17. Parador La Huella José Ignacio, Uruguay
18. El Baqueano Buenos Aires, Argentina
19. Pangea Monterrey, Mexico
20. Fiesta Lima, Peru
21. Chila Buenos Aires, Argentina
22. La Cabrera Buenos Aires, Argentina
23. Tomo 1 Buenos Aires, Argentina
24. Sud 777 Mexico City, Mexico
25. Manzanilla Ensenada, Mexico
26. MeroToro Mexico City, Mexico
27. Rafael Lima, Peru
28. Alto Caracas, Venezuela
29. Oviedo Buenos Aires, Argentina
30. Osaka Santiago, Chile
31. La Picanteria Lima, Peru
32. Gustu La Paz, Bolivia
33. Rosetta Mexico City, Mexico
34. Remanso Do Bosque Belém, Brazil
35. Olympe Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
36. Epice São Paulo, Brazil
37. Ambrosía Santiago, Chile
38. Attimo São Paulo, Brazil
39. Criterión Bogotá, Colombia
40. Francis Mallman 1884 Mendoza, Argentina
41. Amaranta Toluca, Mexico
42. Corazón de Tierra Ensenada, Mexico
43. Harry Sasson Bogotá, Colombia
44. Fasano São Paulo, Brazil
45. La Bourgogne Punta del Este, Uruguay
46. El Cielo Bogotá, Colombia
47. Sucre Buenos Aires, Argentina
48. Elena Buenos Aires, Argentina
49. Leo Cocina y Cava Bogotá, Colombia
50. Pura Tierra Buenos Aires, Argentina

 

Première Brasil 2014 – Festival do Rio

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festival-do-rioThe selection for this year’s Première Brasil, has been announced in Rio de Janeiro, and consists of 41 features and 28 shorts.

Première Brasil 2014 includes ten feature films, ten feature length documentaries and sixteen shorts in the main competition. A further five features and two documentary features will screen hors concours, while other Brazilian productions will screen in special Première Brasil sidebars such as Portraits and New Trends.

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | FICTION | COMPETITION

  • Ausência, by Chico Teixeira, 84’ World Premiere (SP)
  • Casa Grande, by Fellipe Barbosa, 115’ (RJ)
  • Love Film Festival, by Manuela Dias, 100’ World Premier (RJ)
  • O Fim De Uma Era, by Bruno Safadi and Ricardo Pretti 73’ World Premier (RJ)
  • O Fim e os Meios, by Murilo Salles, 105’ World Premier (RJ)
  • O Outro Lado do Paraíso, by André Ristum, 100’ World Premier (SP)
  • Último Cine Drive-in, by Iberê Carvalho, 98’ World PremierL (DF)
  • Obra, by Gregorio Graziosi, 80’ (SP)
  • Prometo um dia deixar essa cidade, by Daniel Aragão Brasil, 90’ World Premier (PE)
  • Sangue Azul, by Lírio Ferreira, 114’ (SP)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | DOCUMENTARIES | COMPETITION

  •  À Queima Roupa, by Theresa Jessouroun, 90’ World Premier (RJ)
  • A Vida Privada dos Hipopótamos, by Maíra Bühler  and Matias Mariani, 91’ (SP)
  • Campo de Jogo, by Eryk Rocha, 71’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Esse Viver Ninguém me Tira, by Caco Ciocler, 72’ (DF)
  • Favela Gay, by Rodrigo Felha, 71’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Meia Hora E As Manchetes Que Viram Manchete, by Angelo Defanti, 81’ World Premier (RJ)
  • My Name is Now, Elza Soares, by Elizabete Martins Campos, 71’ World Premier (MG)
  • O Estopim, by Rodrigo Mac Niven, 87’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Porque Temos Esperança, by Susanna Lira, 71’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Samba & Jazz,  by Jefferson Mello, 90’ (RJ)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | SHORTS | COMPETITION

  • Cine Paissandu: Histórias de uma Geração, by Christian Jafas, 15’ (RJ) – Documentary
  • E o amor foi se tornando cada dia mais distante, by Alexander de Moraes, 9’, (RJ) – Documentary
  • Mater Dolorosa, by Tamur Aimara and Daniel Caetano, 12’ (RJ) – Documentary
  • Cloro, by Marcelo Grabowsky, 15’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • Barqueiro, by José Menezes and Lucas Justiniano, 15’ (SP) – FIC
  • Outono, by Anna Azevedo, 12’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • O Clube, by Allan Ribeiro, 15’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • Edifício Tatuapé Mahal, by Carolina Markowicz and Fernanda Salloum, 9’ (SP) – Fiction
  • Menino da Gamboa, by Pedro Perazzo and Rodrigo Luna, 14’ (BA) – Fiction
  • Diário de Novas Lembranças, by João Pedro Oct, 13’ (SP) – Fiction
  • Historia Natural, by Julio Cavani, 12’ (PE) – Fiction
  • The Yellow Generation, by Daniel Sake 7’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • Kyoto, by Deborah Viegas, 8’ (SP) – Fiction
  • Loja de Répteis, by Pedro Severien, 15’ (PE) – Fiction
  • Max Uber, by Andre Amparo, 15’ (MG) – Fiction
  • Sem Título # 1: Dance of Leitfossil,  by Carlos Adriano, 6’ (SP) – Documentary

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | HORS CONCOURS | FICTION

  • A Luneta Do Tempo , by Alceu Valença, 97’ (PE)
  • Boa Sorte, by Carolina Jabor, 90’ (RJ)
  • El Ardor, by Pablo Fendrik, 90’ (RJ)
  • Infância, by Domingos Oliveira, 84’ (RJ)
  • Trinta, by Paulo Machline, 94’ World Premier (SP)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | HORS CONCOURS | DOCUMENTARIES

  • Brincante, by Walter Carvalho, 92’ World Premier (SP)
  • Cássia, by Paulo Henrique Fontenelle, 120’ World Premier (RJ)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | HORS CONCOURS | SHORTS

  • Compêndio, by Eugenio Puppo and Ricardo Carioba, 15’ (SP) – Fiction
  • Pé sem chão, by Sérgio Ricardo, 14’ (RJ) – Fiction

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | NEW TRENDS | FEATURES

  • A Revolução do Ano, by Diogo Faggiano, 76’ World Premier (SP)
  • Castanha, by Davi Pretto, 95’ (RS)
  • Deserto Azul, by Eder Santos, 94’ World Premier (MG)
  • Hamlet, by Cristiano Burlan, 90’ World Premier (SP)
  • Permanência, by Leonardo Lacca, 85’ World Premier (PE)
  • Seewatchlook o que você vê quando olha o que enxerga?, by Michel Melamed, 79’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Tudo vai ficar da cor que você quiser, by Letícia Simões, 75’ World Premier (RJ)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | NEW TRENDS | SHORTS

  • A Deusa Branca, by Alfeu França, 30’ (RJ) – Documentary
  • Indícios 3 – quanto tempo a gente precisa ficar andando no mesmo lugar para dar um passo, by Dannon Lacerda, 12’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • La Llamada, by Gustavo Vinagre, 19’ (SP) – Documentary
  • O Bom Comportamento, by Eva Randolph, 20’ (RJ) – Fiction
  • O Rei, by Larissa Figueiredo, 25’ (PR) – Documentary
  • Tenho um dragão que mora comigo, by Wislan Esmeraldo, 17’ (CE) – Fiction

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | PORTRAITS | FEATURES

  • O Vento Lá Fora, by Marcio Debellian, 62’ World Premier (RJ)
  • De Gravata e Unha Vermelha, by Miriam Chnaiderman, 86’ (SP)
  • Guardiões do Samba, by Eric and Marc Belhassen, 81’ World Premier (SP)
  • Ídolo, de Ricardo Calvet, 103’ World Premier (RJ)
  • Para Sempre Teu Caio F., by Cande Salles , 90’ World Premier (RJ)

PREMIÈRE BRASIL | PORTRAITS | SHORTS

  • Andrea Tonacci, by Rodrigo Grota, 25’ (PR) – Documentary
  • Araca – O Samba em Pessoa, by Aleques Eiterer, 20’ (RJ) – Documentary
  • Caetana, by Felipe Nepomuceno, 15’ (RJ) – Documentary
  • Nora, by Gabriel Mendes and Fernando Munõz , 7’ (RJ) – Documentary

EXPECTATIONS

  • Na Quebrada, by Fernando Grostein Andrade, 90’ (SP)

GENERATIONS

  • Encantados, by Tizuka Yamasaki, 78’ World Premier (RJ)

Ronnie Biggs publishes his novel written in Brazil

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Keep On Running 2014One of Brazil’s most famous and infamous foreign residents was the Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs. Biggs landed in Rio de Janeiro on 11 March 1970 and departed on 6 May 2001. He was “discovered” and arrested in Rio on 1 February 1974, and subsequently kidnapped on 16 March 1981.

Biggs tells the full story of his time in Brazil and Rio de Janeiro in his autobiography Odd Man Out: The Last Straw. He wrote his autobiography while living in Rio de Janeiro and then updated it when he was released from prison in the UK on 6 August 2009.

During his time in Rio de Janeiro, Biggs also wrote his one and only novel, Keep on Running, a book which was originally published in 1995, and has now been published on Kindle for the first time.

Keep on Running is a novel that draws on the true events surrounding the Great Train Robbery. It gives a dramatic account of what may have happened to the three men at the track who were never caught or charged. It covers their lives before, during and in the years immediately after the robbery in August 1963. It also features the shadowy character known to people on both sides of the law as the Ulsterman, and provides a dramatic solution to the puzzle as to whether or not there was a shipment of jewels on board the train and, if there was, why the owner never came forward.

The book is Biggs’ only novel, although he was very active in writing both poetry and lyrics, most famously for the Sex Pistols and Die Toten Hosen. He had also been involved in writing the screenplay for the film Prisoner of Rio.

The Kindle version of Keep on Running: A Story from the Great Train Robbery  is available globally direct from your local Amazon or Kindle store.

Australia
Brazil
Canada
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Spain
United Kingdom
USA

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First Rio 2016 test event brings 23 Olympic medallists to city

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evento_teste_vela_alexferro_29072014-1618_0.jpgThe first Rio 2016 test event, the Aquece Rio International Sailing Regatta 2014, has brought some of the world’s top sailors to Rio de Janeiro. From 2 to 9 August, 324 athletes – including 23 Olympic medallists – from 34 countries will compete in 215 boats across five courses on Guanabara Bay, in the largest Olympic sailing competition ever held in Brazil.

“All the sailors who are dreaming of winning a medal at Rio 2016 are here,” said Australia’s Mathew Belcher, the London 2012 champion in the 470 class. “There are various Olympic champions here, and many more who will win Olympic medals. It’s my first time in Rio so my goal is to get to know and understand the climatic conditions, as well as to get to the know the city. I already knew that the wind varies from medium to low intensity in the bay and this will be a challenge for all the sailors.”

Belcher was joined in Rio by four other Olympic champions from the London Games: fellow Australian and 49er champion Nathan Outteridge, Spain’s Marina Alabau, who won the 49er FX, Holland’s RS:X  champion Dorian van Rijsselberge, and Sweden’s Max Salminen, gold medallist in the Star class, which has been dropped from the Olympic programme for the Rio 2016 Games.

Great Britain’s Luke Patience, who took silver behind Belcher in the 470, also spoke of the high level of competitors and the importance of getting to know the Rio 2016 Olympic venue. “The best boats in the world are here,” he explained. “It’s an important opportunity for us to get to know the conditions and gather information, but it’s also clear that everyone who’s here wants to be the first to win a title on the Olympic Waters.”

For Patience, the regatta is his first sailing competition in South America and he expressed his excitement about being in the next Olympic host city. “It’s a really exciting city, full of life and energy. It has a happy atmosphere and is known for hosting big celebrations, like Carnival and the World Cup. I’m really happy to be here and determined to do my best in the test event.”

The International Sailing Regatta is the first in a series of 45 sporting events that will take place in Rio 2016 venues that will allow athletes and the organising committee to rehearse for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The majority of the events will be held in 2015.

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Rocinha by Rocinha offers a new Rio favela experience

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rocinha4A new initiative, the Rocinha By Rocinha Project, hopes to boost tourism to one of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favelas and was created earlier this year by a small dedicated team of young people, all living in Rocinha. The project hopes to start a cultural exchange between residents and domestic and foreign tourists visiting Rio.

Rocinha By Rocinha has adopted a tourist concept largely used in European countries: the free walking tour. At the end of the guided tour, the visitors then have the option of making a voluntary contribution according to how much they want and can afford. All generated funds go directly to the guide that is doing the tour of the day. The same procedure is adopted for the charged packages, such as the tour to the Dois Irmãos mountain and a tour of Rocinha by night.

“We want to show what the culture of Rocinha has to offer and to give a true feeling of what its like to be part of the community,” explains one of the founders of Rocinha By Rocinha, Erik Martins. Erik leads the team formed by five other guides, all with excellent knowledge of the community, good English and a willingness to become entrepreneurs, and help Rocinha to prosper.

“Our tours cover the recent initiatives that are improving the conditions of the slums, but also reveal the locations that still lack of zeal. We don’t want to hide what saddens us, but explain everything that is beautiful and culturally rich around us, as some fascinating panoramic views that fill us with pride”, Erik explains.

Rocinha By Rocinha has the support of a group of voluntary international consultants who are helping to organize and publicize the work and created the Rocinha By Rocinha website and helped develop a solution for the guides to accept payments from international credit and debit cards.

The Swedish company iZettle, one of Europe’s leading providers of mobile payment services and apps, is a partner of Rocinha By Rocinha and this allows foreign tourists, not always with cash to hand, to be able to pay securely by card. Operating in Brazil since August 2013, iZettle is now helping entrepreneurs and professionals from nine countries to accept payments on their smartphones and tablets.

Reservations for Rocinha By Rocinha can be made ​​through the website or by email  to tours@rocinhabyrocinha.com.

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