Ezequiel’s Fufu
Ezequiel is Nigerian and came to Brazil to work due to a lack of opportunities in his country. He used to work as an electrical technician there, but his love for food took precedence. He works on the beach selling dishes known as “Delícias do Africano” (Delights of the African). He decided to combine African cuisine with typical ingredients from the Northeastern Brazilian culinary, and the result is delicious. At first glance, the food seems simple: the dish is a customer’s choice of meat (onion steak, sun-dried meat, sausage, boiled shrimp, breaded shrimp, or lobster) served with cooked manioc, farofa (toasted cassava flour), and lots of garlic, which they call “fufu,” typically Nigerian. His “delights” became so famous that Ezequiel already has a regular clientele that extends beyond the beach. The residents of Avenida Boa Viagem, upon seeing him, call in advance to make reservations or place orders in advance. Ezequiel took a culinary course in Maranhão and moved to Recife because it was closer to his home country. Here, he identified with the geographical characteristics and the receptiveness and behavior of the people. He started working at a restaurant owned by a friend’s father, but after some time, he realized he wanted to have his own business. That’s when he met a guy who sold food on the beach and managed to rent his cart. Shortly after, he was able to buy it and started gaining recognition among the customers. Today, he has a new cart, completely adapted to his needs, where he stores the precooked food (farofa and cooked manioc) and cooks the meats. In addition, he developed a hydraulic system to have running water. All to make the system more efficient, hygienic, and to please the customers even more.
Where and When?
Boa Viagem Beach
Every day:
10:00 – 16:00
Photos: Neto de Oliveira / Text: Ines Garçoni