Sergipana with a Rio soul, the chef Monique Gabiatti He began his career in 2008 heading the buffet that bears his name. Graduated in gastronomy and nutrition, she has a series of influences in the kitchen, such as the specialization in red meat that she made in Argentina and, of course, all the flavor of the sea after growing up on the northeastern coast.
The recognition came from working with celebrities and participating in the 2nd edition of MasterChef Profissionais, but also from visiting renowned restaurants, such as the former Olympe, from Claude Troisgros Bottega del Vino and the boutique hotel Casa Mosquito.
Today, Monique is a chef and partner at Belisco Wine Bar It's from Octopus Bar , both in Botafogo. Belisco follows a more intimate proposal, with dishes to be shared and more than 100 labels for diners to choose from. Polvo, opened last year, offers a more relaxed atmosphere, where “good food, cheap dishes and cold draft beer” reign, as the slogan says.
Outside of her kitchen, Monique also experiments with other flavors and shares her favorite addresses in the Marvelous City below, as well as the dishes she likes most in her two homes:
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Sushi Vaz
Already known for its quality in São Paulo, with units in Pinheiros and Alameda Santos, Sushi Vaz arrived in Rio last year with an eight-seat counter in Leblon.
Lately I've been addicted to the house's omakase, where the chef Wdson Vaz proposes a journey through Japanese cuisine in 16 steps with the best of fresh fish and seafood, with an experience that lasts around two hours.
Sushi Vaz: Rua Rita Ludolf, 87 A – Leblon, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 99789-4675 (reservations via Whatsapp) / Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm and 9pm; Sunday lunch only, at 1pm and 3pm
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Clan BBQ
Clan BBQ, in Leblon, is also on my list of restaurants I frequent and I'm a fan in Rio. It's a place for those who love everything that comes out and goes through the fire.
From the menu I recommend the house burger, whose simplicity surprises the palate. It only has bread, meat (rare), cheddar cheese and homemade sauce, but the menu goes further with premium cuts, such as ancho steak and skirt steak, and super premium cuts, such as wagyu.
Clan BBQ: Rua Dias Ferreira, 233 – Leblon – Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 96713-6746 (reservations via Whatsapp) / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12pm to midnight; Sunday, from 12pm to 7pm.
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Padella Trattoria
Botafogo is my neighborhood in Rio and among my gastronomic choices in the area I highlight Padella Trattoria, younger brother of the Grado restaurant, by chef Nello Garaventa .
From the menu, with several good pastas, I highlight the Marubini Panna, which is like a closed and stuffed tortellini – in the restaurant it contains veal cheek.
Padella Trattoria: Rua Conde de Irajá, 115 – Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 96826-9998 (reservations via Whatsapp) / Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, from 7pm to 11:30pm; Friday and Saturday, from 7:30 pm to 4:30 pm and from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm; Sunday, from 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm.
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Octopus Bar
As I spend a good part of the day in the restaurants I manage, I end up eating at some of my own addresses.
From Polvo, a relaxed bar with draft beer and seafood in Botafogo, my favorite is Polvo à Lagareiro, a traditional Portuguese recipe in which the whole grilled octopus comes with grilled battered potatoes, broccoli and fried garlic gremolata.
Octopus Bar: Rua General Polidoro, 156 – Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / No telephone / Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday, from 6pm to midnight; Friday, from 6pm to 1am; Saturday, from 12pm to midnight; Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.
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Belisco Wine Bar
Already at Belisco, a wine bar also in Botafogo that I run alongside the sommelier Gabi Teixeira I'm a self-confessed fan of the steak tartar french toast, a hit at the house.
The dish comes with filet mignon cut on the tip of a knife, spicy egg yolk, salty brioche french toast, grana padano fonduta, truffled parsley and massago.
Belisco Wine Bar: Rua Arnaldo Quintela, 93 – Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Tel.: (21) 99309-6196 / Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 12pm to midnight.
Source: CNN Brasil
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