Comida de Favela Festival (Favela Food Festival) is a gastronomic event that will take place for the 2nd time in Maré, in November 2023. Bars and restaurants operating in the 16 favelas of Maré signed up between May and June to participate in the Festival, which will choose 17 establishments for a second stage, in which they will have to prepare a dish based on the category they are participating in.

A jury made up of specialized professionals will select three dishes in each category, which will receive prizes to boost their businesses, valuing traditional cuisine and the creativity of local dishes. There will also be voting by the public for their favorite dish, in which customers will be invited to rate it immediately after the meal, in the establishment itself. The festival will take place during November in Maré and participants will receive consultancy and promotion.

The festival brings people from different parts of the city to discover and taste the flavors of Maré and, in addition to the gastronomic experience, also promotes reflections on the right to free movement in territories and the exchange of experiences, and the possibility of highlighting the many positive activities that exist in the favela.

Like the first edition of the festival, which took place in 2015, this year, the selected establishments will also receive professional consultancy offered by Redes da Maré in the pre-festival period, encompassing items such as food organization and conservation rules, presentation of dishes, and customer service.

Projects selected for the second edition of Comida de Favela (2023)

Bar and Pension Edson Potiguar (Via C11, No. 41 - Conjunto Pinheiro)

Beef tongue with cassava puree

EDSON is 52 years old, a resident of Maré for 33 years, and left the interior of Pedro Régis, na Paraíba to make a living in Rio de Janeiro. In the 1980s, he opened his first small bar, where he sold drinks and some snacks. After 12 years of living in a rented place, he managed to buy and renovate it, turning it into Pensão Edson Potiguar. The menu is diverse, but Northeastern cuisine stands out, and the most loyal customers are treated to dishes that evoke emotional memories of their origins.

 

Cafeteria R&B (Via A1, No. 71 - Vila dos Pinheiros)

Sausage Risole

Rejane is 47 years old, married, a mother of four children, and has been a resident of Vila dos Pinheiros for 27 years. To help support her family's income, she came up with the idea to open her own business and decided to sell snacks to help her husband raise their children. Making snacks by hand, Rejane acquired her customers spontaneously and soon began receiving orders for parties, weddings, and buffets. Today, as the owner of Cafeteria R&B, Rejane is a reference in Via A1, where her customers approve her delicious dishes daily..

 

Trailer da Morena (Main Street of Vila do João - Vila do João)

Ribs with angu

Vanusa, 48 years old, the owner of Trailer da Morena, started her business 20 years ago with the goal of financially support her five children and educate them. Today, her menu includes a variety of soups, snacks, and executive dishes. The flagship dish is "caldo de angu" with ribs, a favorite among her clientele, combining the flavors of Northeastern cuisine with contemporary ingredients. The dish is a family legacy that she cherishes as a tribute to her parents.

 

Robson Quentinhas (15 de Janeiro, No. 17 - Nova Holanda)

Hidden Baroa Potatoes with French Oxtail

Robson is 34 years old and, encouraged by his wife, decided to open his own business selling meals in the region to supplement his income and gain autonomy. He initially started with just a few units sold from home to friends and family, but as sales grew, he needed his own space. Today, Robson Quentinhas has its fixed kitchen in Nova Holanda and delivers to various neighborhoods in the city, offering a diverse menu at an affordable price.

 

Churrasquinho do Jorge (Ari Leão Street, No. 7 - Parque União)

Mixed Barbecue Kabobs

Jorge is 43 years old and started his journey selling skewers 16 years ago. It began as a playful endeavor and quickly gained many customers in the region, turning it into a serious business for him and his family. Churrasquinho do Jorge operates from Saturday to Sunday, from 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and offers more than 10 diverse barbecue skewers, which are enjoyed by over 250 regular customers from the local area and beyond. The establishment doesn't currently offer delivery, but it's in the plans for the future.

 

Bar and Choperia Esperança (Esperança Street, No. 12 - Parque União)

Coxinha Arretada

Born in Ceará, Rondinele arrived in Rio in 1993, at the age of 12. He started his journey at Bar do Sorriso, in Parque União, where he worked as a waiter and attendant for 13 years. In 2003, he began selling "Caldinho de Mocotó," and in 2008, he opened Bar Esperança. It has remained one of the main references in local popular cuisine. With personalized service, the establishment prioritizes customer well-being, ensuring the best experience for those who come to enjoy its various dishes. The motto is simple: "Where there is hope, there is everything," and they live up to this motto.

 

Boteco Tô Chegando (Bento Ribeiro Dantas Avenue, Block 17 - Conjunto Pinheiro)

Chicken Gurjão

The partners Edinalva, originally from Paraíba, and carioca Edissandra, both 46 years old, are the founders of this place that has been embracing the LGBTQIA+ community for 3 years. Boteco Tô Chegando is like a big family, offering marriage proposals, baby showers, karaoke nights, bingo games, theme parties, and more. The flagship dish is the "gurjão de frango" and fish nuggets, served with a special sauce. The menu includes a variety of options, such as pea soup, Mexican beans, sun-dried meat with cassava, fried sausage, "baião de dois," and "sopa de mocotó."

 

Garota da Teixeira (Teixeira Ribeiro Street, No. 711 - Parque Maré)

Stuffed Salmon

With the essence of authentic Northeastern cuisine, the self-service restaurant Garota da Teixeira, created 12 years ago by Antonio, a native of Paraíba, offers an impressive menu. It always includes three different types of rice and a variety of meat options ranging from seafood to Northeastern dishes, as well as daily barbecue with various cuts of meat. Leading this team is the cook Rosilene, primarily responsible for the delightful flavors that have pleased customers for many years and made this place a popular spot.

 

Pensão Petisco (Via C8, No. 95 - Conjunto Pinheiro)

Rabada with couscous

With the essence of traditional Northeastern cuisine, Pensão Petisco is a true oasis of popular gastronomy led by Ana Célia, a 65-year-old owner. Always wearing a smile and radiating kindness, Ana Célia welcomes all her customers with great courtesy and takes the time to present her restaurant with patience and cordiality. Pensão Petisco offers a variety of dishes, but it's the regional Northeastern flavor that sets it apart. The standout dish is oxtail, served with watercress, potatoes, and cuscus.

 

Frango Assado da Vila (Adoração Street, No. 392 - Vila do João)

Rotisserie Chicken

Twelve years ago, Ana Maria's son left Baixada Fluminense with a loan of a thousand reais, a lot of persistence, and the determination to change his family's circumstances. Upon arriving in Maré, the family started selling 60 chickens a day, and by the following weekend, they were selling 400. The success is not only due to the delicious roasted chicken; Ana Maria adds her famous seasoning, homemade breadcrumbs, yams, potatoes, and Calabrian sausage, making everything a true gastronomic delight.

 

Hamburgueria DN (Santa Rita Street - B Street, No 12 - Nova Holanda)

Hot dog with artisanal sausage, dried meat and curd cheese

Nathalia Ferreira, 34, from Maré, is the leader of Burgueira DN, a familiar and welcoming place. In 2020, Nathalia needed resources to maintain her home and opened the burger restaurant at home. The business was growing and she needed a bigger space to keep up with demand. Today, with a team of five people, Hamburgueria DN is a reference in Maré. A customer favorite is the Limousine, a sausage hot dog with beef jerky and cheese. The sweet and sour sauce is slightly spicy, harmonizes the flavors and awakens the palate.

 

Japa Food (Guilherme Maxwell Avenue, No 84 - Morro do Timbau)

Hot Philadelphia stuffed with salmon and cream cheese

Elaine Cristina, 38, and Anderson Lima, 40, are the owners of one of the trendiest Japanese food restaurants in Maré. Currently, with a new space just debuted, Japa Food makes the gastronomic experience even more special. Starting at home and with the help of their children, the couple started the venture 6 years ago when they decided to be independent and were looking for something they wanted to call their own. With success growing all over Maré, the idea of expanding it was a natural one. Japa Food welcomes its customers from Tuesday to Sunday offering the best of Japanese cuisine.

 

Bar Amparo (Luiz Ferreira Street, without number - Baixa do Sapateiro)

Prato: Feijoada

Bar Amparo is a true family. Whether it's for the story, or for providing incredible moments lived by loyal customers who don't give up the famous feijoada from Maria Amparo, the owner. Originally from Pernambuco, coming from a family of 16 siblings, Amparo accompanied his mother in the kitchen producing daily meals. Awakening his gift for gastronomy, Amparo began his activities making hot meals at home and, in 2003, he inaugurated his trailer with capacity for 75 people, with an equipped kitchen and two bathrooms. There are more than 250 weekly meals and many outside orders for buffets.

 

Amarelinho 24h (Guilherme Frota 374 - Morro do Timbau)

Dish: Mocotó Broth

Amarelinho 24h is the place for the best conversations and dishes offered by the owner Dona Maria de Fátima. For you who like a good review accompanied by homemade food, it is the ideal place. The Pernambuco native, with a unique charisma, is passionate about her customers and always welcomes them with a beautiful smile on her face, making the experience incredible. The most requested dish in the place is the famous mocotó. The secret, according to her, is the bottom of the pan concentrated with the main ingredients that make the dish even tastier.

 

Capitão Sun-dried Meat (1 Street, Crossfire Square - Conjunto Bento Ribeiro Dantas)

Dish: Sun-dried Meat with Boiled Cassava and Baião de Dois

Son of Northeasterners and born in Baixa do Sapateiro, Francisco Marcelo, 51, is a geographer by training, master in sympathy and the owner of "Carne de Sol do Capitão" - his son's nickname since childhood. It's not too hard to be won over by the incredible sun-dried meat served on site, the main dish of the establishment that has been serving the residents of Maré since 2017. With a diversified menu ranging from hamburgers to ready-made dishes, today Capitão is in two addresses in Maré, one of them to serve customers and the other only for delivery. The Captain has also sponsored fighters and partners with theater groups in Maré.

 

Ki Empada Boa (Teixeira Ribeiro Street, No 752 - Nova Holanda)

Dish: Chicken Pie with Creamcheese

The couple Filipe Mariano, 24, and Vera Lúcia Lopes, 26, are having the greatest success in Nova Holanda. This is for the simple fact that they open their enterprise and show that simplicity wins anyone: it's Ki Empada Boa. Philip inherited the gift of making salty food from his father, José, who from an early age had the help of his children in production for the family income. When Filipe met Vera, the ties grew closer and they decided to start selling pies. They started selling in the main streets of Nova Holanda, and today they have their fixed location where they can receive their customers and also carry out production.

 

Itinerary and guided tour

The project will also carry out guided tours of the festival with resident monitors from Maré, leaving from 2 different points of Maré, on Saturdays and Sundays, at 12 pm. Visitors will tour the festival's favela food spots and learn stories about the tide along the way. The meeting points will be at Praça do Parque União and at the Vila do João bus stop (corner with Avenida Brasil). Information via WhatsApp: +55 (21) 99723-5681.

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FAVELA FOOD IN THE MEDIA

About the 1st edition of Comida de Favela (From September 17th to October 17th, 2015)

The first gastronomic event held in Maré.

In its debut, the Comida de Favela Festival received over 4,000 people from different parts of the city who visited one or more participating establishments in the event. The organization offered free transportation on weekends for visitors who do not live in Maré.

Redes da Maré, through the gastronomy project Flavors of Maré, was the creator and organizer of the event. 16 establishments were selected among more than 100 applicants to present a dish that represented the culture and gastronomy of Maré in the festival.

All participants received professional gastronomic consulting offered by the organization before the festival period, covering aspects such as food organization and conservation standards, dish development and presentation, and customer service.

The restaurants competed in two categories: "Best Bar Food" and "Best Street Food." The top three winners in each category were selected by the public and a special jury for a prize between R$800 and R$3,000:

"Best Bar Food"

1º Sonia’s Gourmet

2º Pensão da Marilda

3º Bar da Buchada

"Best Street Food"

1º Frango Assado da Vila

2º Empadinha da Leandra

3º Rei das Cabritas