Marlene’s Goma CakeMaceió Anyone who visits the village of São Bento in the tourist town of Maragogi quickly discovers that its main attraction is not the beautiful beaches, but the famous goma cakes – which are not really cakes at all, but rather biscuits known as sequilhos that are sold everywhere. For nearly 40 years,…
Rice Couscous by CousinsMaceió Rodolfo’s great-grandmother, Dona Pureza, used to make rice couscous, which has now traveled from the historical and tourist town of Penedo, the oldest city on the banks of the São Francisco River, to Maceió, 160 kilometers away. This delicacy, served with shredded sun-dried meat and coalho cheese, was sold in the…
Delights from Riacho DoceMaceió The story of the sweets from Riacho Doce Beach – its name allegedly derived from there – has not been properly told. However, it is an ancient tradition that combines indigenous techniques of preparation, Portuguese ingredients, and African ways of selling. For more than four generations, women like Dona Cristina and…
Seafood from PajuçaraMaceió The hordes of tourists who visit the Pajuçara natural pools every day on rustic and colorful rafts don’t go hungry. After navigating for about 15 minutes to see the natural aquariums, they find, let’s say, mobile kiosks set up on small boats, usually run by women. The kitchens are on board the…
Betânia’s LobsterMaceió Betânia brings joy to tourists on the most famous and busiest beach in Maceió. At the fresh fish market in Pajuçara, just a few meters from her kiosk, they buy their lobsters and bring them to her to prepare. “I’ll make it the way the customer wants,” she announces. Betânia set up the…
Açucena´s Jawbreaker CandyMaceió For over ten years, after retiring, Seu José de Açucena walks for an hour from his home to the historic neighborhood of Jaraguá to sell the traditional quebra-queixo, a typical treat sold in the streets since the time of slavery. He offers two versions – the traditional one (made only with coconut)…
Chica and Del’s SarapatelMaceió Sarapatel, a Portuguese-origin stew made from pork viscera, intestines, and coagulated blood, has become a typical dish of Northeastern cuisine. It’s one of those dishes that people either love or hate. However, at Chica and Del’s stall, the delicacy has more fans than anything else and is so popular that it’s…
Meringue by EudesMaceió Eudes is undoubtedly one of the most famous street vendors in Maceió. He has appeared in newspapers, on television, and even in international magazines. There is not a single person who frequents the city’s beaches who doesn’t know him. Not only because the “King of Meringue,” as he is affectionately called, has…
