Savory Snacks’s Marques Family

Rio de Janeiro

When he owned a small bar in the interior of Ceará, Edilson Marques knew well how to attract customers. He would spread dirt on the bar floor: “Napkins, cachaça, everything to give the impression that the place was bustling,” he says. As soon as he turned 18, he flew away from there. In search of a good job, he came to Rio de Janeiro, then Brasília, São Paulo, back to Ceará, and finally settled in Rio for good. He worked as a laborer, bricklayer, and gardener, but it was as a kitchen assistant that he learned the basics of cooking. He gained courage and started selling his own snacks on the streets. For 11 years now, Edilson has been running the stall on the charming Rua do Lavradio in Lapa. And as the saying goes, “like father, like sons,” Magno, aged 22, and Maicon, aged 21, inherited the talent for business and became fundamental figures in the stall. The orders keep coming, but Magno naturally and delicately controls everything and everyone. “I love doing this here. I really enjoy dealing with the public.” When he’s not at the forefront of the stall, Maicon takes charge. Shy by nature, he speaks less than his brother, but, according to their father, he sells more. “He’s always focused, while Magno is more cheerful and friendly. Each one has their characteristic and importance here,” Edilson summarizes.

Where and When?

Rua do Lavradio,172, Lapa

Monday to Saturday:
4:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Photos: Marcos Pinto/ Text: Ines Garçoni