Step onto the colourful streets of London’s iconic Camden Town on any weekend and you will find yourself buffetted into the sway of the crowds of people on the move. They come to enjoy the vibe of the busy hive of streets that are so chockablock with market stalls and quirky shops that it can be easy to miss the specialist restaurants such as Made in Brazil.
Made in Brazil restaurant and bar has been insitu along Inverness Street market for the last two decades and, despite the colourful mural of Rio’s Cristo Redentor seemingly reaching out to the passing public, it’s easy to miss. Look out for it if you like or would like to try Brazilian fare – it would be a shame to miss out.
Ambience
Made in Brazil interior, Camden Town
Made in Brazil is a small but colourful and lively venue with an overflowing bar, wood tables, some with red banquets arranged over the ground floor, and the basement overflow.
The wood floors are enlivened by the vibrant wallpaper and artworks with Latino music in the background. For more Latino vibe, get there when the DJ Jo Uthio spins out his tunes on a Saturday night from 9pm to 2am.
Food & Drink
It was lunchtime so rather than an alcoholic tipple I went for a mouthwatering, sweet and tangy raspberry and passion fruit caipirinha cocktail, with fresh lime, white sugar, passion fruit, raspberry soda and soda.
I sipped this while I browsed the Brazilian staples. There are plenty of main dishes on the menu such as the Brazilian national dish feijoada – a black bean stew made from beef, pork and smoked meats served with sauteed greens, pork crackling, orange segment, farofa (casava crumbs) and served with steamed rice.
Though tempted I opted instead to go the tapas way to get a taste of Brazilian fare. We chose from the 5 items menu for £28.95 menu as follows:
Coxinha, battered teardrops of pastry with beautifully seasoned shredded chicken, Pastel de Carne, a light and crispy pastry filled with minced meat – my favourite, Bolinhos de bacalhaus, mini salt cod fish cakes served with lemon mayo, Coxinha, battered teardrops of pastry with shredded Frango a passarinho, deep-fried marinated chicken pieces served with garlic mayo, banana da terra frita, fried plantain and the only non-fried dish – a tropical salad.
Fried foods taste great, and washing it down with cachaça, a Brazilian sugarcane spirit, was a pretty good digestif. At anything up to 48%, this it is strong stuff, and you get a choice from more than 400 varieties jostling in the bar.
The dessert we chose was Mousse de maracuja – passion fruit mouse to match the flavours of the cocktail and Brigadeiro, and a trio of intense Brazilian nut truffles.
Verdict: Made in Brazil is a fun venue. especially when there is live music. Get heady on Cachaça and enjoy street food, Brazilian style.
Made in Brasil
12 Inverness St,
London NW1 7HJ
Tel: 02074820777