The restaurant Ancestral Kitchen Altar was declared Cultural Heritage and Recife Gastronomy . The title was given through municipal law sanctioned on June 19. Founded in 2014 in the Santo Amaro neighborhood, the restaurant is led by chef Carmen Virginia which serves ancestral cuisine with Afro-Brazilian flavors.
“As a black woman, from Recife, Pernambuco and practicing Candomblé, I see this recognition as a wonderful tribute to our roots, our ancestors and our rich gastronomic culture,” said Carmem, who has been responsible for the ritual dishes since the age of seven. from a terreiro in Recife.
On social media, the chef also celebrated the title. “Right in the year we turned 10, this is such a gift for all of us!” she wrote on Instagram.
Municipal Law 19,259 came into force on the date of publication and can be seen at Official Gazette of Recife.
The Ancestral Kitchen Altar
The restaurant is located in a colorful house, which is highlighted by a decoration that incorporates symbols of the Afro-Brazilian culture It is northeastern with images of saints, sculptures of orixás and a baobab in the center of the room.
The dishes that come out of the kitchen respect culinary traditions passed down from generation to generation. One of the highlights of the menu is the Cabidela’s chicken from the chef’s grandmother, which arrives at the table with fava beans, bolão farofa and sweet potatoes sautéed in rosemary butter.
O inajá fish created in honor of Dona Carmem’s mother, is also a highlight: it comes with moqueca, bean and flour dumplings, acaçá stuffed with coalho cheese and banana with prawns.
In 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the restaurant was included in the “El Espíritu de América Latina” list of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. The list brought together a collection of restaurants that worked hard during the pandemic and supported their communities, becoming references in their regions. Banzeiro, in Manaus; Capim Santo, in Trancoso; Aconchego Carioca, in Rio; Mãos de Maria, in São Paulo; and Ori, in Salvador, were also selected.
Last year, after nine years of opening the headquarters in Recife, the Altar Cozinha Ancestral opened a unit in Vila Madalena , in São Paulo, close to Beco do Batman. The venture is a bet by Carmem Virginia with the singer Luisa Sonza and the businesswoman Fatima Pissarra .
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
