Atlanta Eats Hidden Gem: Brazilian Taste Food Truck
Most Atlanta Eats Hidden Gems earn that distinction because they are tucked away somewhere out of sight or exist just under the radar. Not this one. This gem moves all around the city and actively promotes where they will be.
If watching the Olympic Games in Rio has given you a craving for Brazil, there’s no reason to drag out your passport and apply for a visa; the Brazilian Taste Truck will be appearing at a festival or office park near you, serving up some of the city’s most decadent Brazilian delicacies.
Husband and wife team Maria Eduarda Marques and Murial Ribeiro decided just over a year ago that they missed the “true” Brazilian cooking from their homes (Maria in Brazilia and Muriel in Sao Paulo). They dropped their life savings into a food truck and applied for a permit.
Many miles and many dishes later, Atlantans all over the city stalk the truck on social media and troll their website to find out where the couple will be cooking up dishes worthy of a night at Carnival.
Track down the truck and feast on Brazilian-style dished such as barbecued meats—flank steak or chicken, both heavily marinated and salted so they are super soft and flavorful; Moqueca, a rich, saltwater fish stew cooked in coconut milk and tomatoes; Pao de Quejo (cheese bread), a pillowy, savory roll cooked with mozzarella cheese inside; deep fried Brazilian-style chicken croquettes called Coxinha; for dessert, Brigadeiro, a chocolate morsel made from condensed milk, cocoa powder and chocolate sprinkles.
The food is simple, explosively flavorful and affordable. They mostly cater to office parks and festivals but they have regular stops as well. “We have customers that know we will be a certain place on Wednesdays and tell us they wait all week for Wednesday!” says Maria.
But the journey for the couple was not always so smooth. In fact, their dreams of running their own business were almost dashed before they even went their first mile: last year just a few days before they were to officially launch their truck was stolen. Luckily, the theft happened around Christmas and the thief found his Christmas spirit and returned the truck unharmed.
Ultimately, I asked Muriel and Maria if they longed for Rio and wished they could be there for the games. “Nah,” says Muriel. “Too expensive and too crazy!” Maria adds, “Besides, our kids love America and never want to leave.”
While you probably won’t be able to get down to Rio in time for the closing ceremonies, you can always track down this Atlanta Eats Hidden Gem, grab some salty Brazilian BBQ steak and a Guarana soda and easily pretend that you are strolling down Copacabana beach.
For more Atlanta Eats Hidden Gems, check out a full list here. And be sure to watch Atlanta Eats every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on Peachtree TV for more of your favorite Atlanta restaurants!