The Cosmopolitan Club held the Brazilian Coffee Hour, on Thursday, October 10th. It was a great success. More than 70 people showed up to taste food and learn more about Brazil. Samples of typical dishes were offered, like Xinxim de Galinha (a flavorful stew of chicken and shrimp cooked with cashews, coconut milk, and palm oil), Caldo de Feijao (creamy puree of beans with spices), Brigadeiro (little balls of chocolate and condensed milk), Pão de Queijo (warm little rolls made with cheese and tapioc), among others. Brazilian beverages also were served, like guaraná (a soda made from tropical fruit called guaraná), passion fruit juice, and chimarrão (strong hot tea from the South).
That night, the Cosmopolitan Club house was beautifully decorated in
the Brazilian colors of green and yellow. It had paper flags, balloons,
and awesome posters all over. Slides were shown with beautiful photos
from different regions in Brazil.
This time, the organization team was concerned about showing not just
Rio de Janeiro. Of course, it is the most famous city in Brazil, but definitively
not the only one. Brazil has much more to offer, since it is almost the
same size as the United States and has different influences like Portuguese,
African, Italian, and German, depending on which part of Brazil you are
in.
During the Coffee Hour, the biggest attraction was when a Champaign-Urbana group showed Capoeira, which is a Brazilian martial art, created by the slaves, that brings together physical strength, mental balance, music, and artistic expression. More than just a fighting style, Capoeira is a mix of dance and self-defense with a rich tradition. If you would like to learn more about Brazil, please contact the Brazilian Students, Faculty, and Staff Association at UIUC at
And, I hope you can come to the Brazilian dinner on March 2, 2003!
Snapshots from the Brazilian coffee hour.
Click on the thumbnail image to view a larger image.
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Capoeira performance |  |
Several of the core organizers from the Brazilian Student Association that hosted the Coffee Hour |
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Cosmo house decorated in Brazilian colors |  |
Some of the Brazilian dishes |