BRAZILIAN FEIJOADA

It was introduced in Brazil by black slaves as early as the sixteenth century, "feijoada" it's a bean potpourri type dish, it is kind off the Brazilian equivalent of our American "soul food". It is without a doubt the country's national dish. It is in fact so popular throughout Brazil that most restaurants, from the humblest inner-city " lanchonete" to the sophisticated hotels lining the Bahia and Rio shores, designate specific days in which "feijoada" is served at lunch time as "o prato do dia" and of course that day's special. Other eateries pride themselves in the fact that they serve it every day and advertise it in the yellow pages and/or in conspicuous blackboards outside their premises. They are somehow very proud of Feijoada ( orginally known as "poor people food") but it's so tasty that anyone loves it these days.