Comida di Buteco, the Annual Bar Contest in Belo Horizonte, MG, places a great emphasis on bar food entries, which account for 70% of the total vote value (hygiene, drinks and service also count).
Entries are judged for flavor, presentation and creativity, and must be suitable for serving on a cocktail toothpick. The winner is chosen by patron votes (70% value) and a panel of judges. This list is a sample of entries in Comida di Buteco 2008.
Agosto Butiquim
Address: Rua Esmeralda 298
Phone: 31-3337-6825
Hours: Tue-Sat 5p-12a, Sunday 6p-12a
Entry: Pecado Original (Original Sin)
Shredded pickled beef with spicy apple bits
Armazém do Árabe
Comida di Buteco
Address: Rua Luz 230
Phone: 31- 3223-1410
Hours: Mon-Sat 5p-12a
Entry: Michui de Cordeiro à Moda Armazém
Roast lamb with mint sauce, sautéed noisette potatoes and Moroccan onions.
Bar 222
Comida di Buteco
Address: Rua Francisco Deslandes 222
Phone: 31-3287-7712
Hours: Mon-Sat 6p-12a. Sunday 3p-10p
Entry: Os 3 Mosqueteiros e as Doces Donzelas (The Three Musketeers and the Sweet Maidens)
Chicken breast, pork and fillet mignon with gorgonzola sauce and fried sweet potatoes
Bar do Doca
Address: Rua Américo Macedo 645
Phone: 31-3291-6594
Hours: Mon-Fri 5p-1a, Saturday and holidays 12p-1a, Sunday 12p-11p
Entry: Moqueca de Carne de Sol
Stewed sun-cured meat medallion filled with cheese and banana, dipped in a sauce with hearts of pupunha palm and pepper, served with fried pork rind farofa.
Bar do Walter
Address: Rua Mármore 181
Phone: 31-3463-5650
Hours: Mon-Sat 12p-12a, Sunday 10a-6p
Entry: Bacalhau de Bico (Codfish and Garbanzo Bean Salad with Rolls)
Café Palhares
Address: Rua Tupinambás 638
Phone: 31-3201-1841
Hours: Mon-Fri 7a-11p, Saturday 7a-10p
Entry: Ninho Mineiro (Minas Gerais Nest)
A crunchy potato nest filled with house specialties – pork sausage, fried pork rind blades, cheese rolls and sauce.
Chic Tácio
Address: Rua Itamaracá 25
Phone: 31-3421-3363
Hours: Mon-Fri 5p-11p; Saturday 8a-5p; Sunday 8a-4p
Entry: O Bão Também da Vovó Nenzinha (Grandma Nenzinha’s Good Stuff Too)
Rice cakes with filling, either catupiry cheese or catupiry and shredded sun-dried meat
Owner Wagner Rosa said the Chic Tácio entry paid homage to his mother, who passed away about a month before the contest started. "We adapted her recipe for large servings and added some herbs and spices for extra punch, but other than that the rice cakes are just like the ones she was always preparing for the family."
Família Paulista
Address: Rua Luther King 242 suite 09
Phone: 31-3484-4598
Hours: Mon-Thur 6p-11p, Fri 6p-12a, Sat 12p-11p, Sun 12p-5p
Entry: Sashi MINAS Sushi GERAIS
Owner Nicola Vizioli, a São Paulo native, said the Família Paulista entry - a reference to the Japanese Immigration Centennial, celebrated this year, and the strong Japanese presence in São Paulo - recreated sushi for the Minas bar taste. "We rolled different local treats, such as tutu de feijão (mashed beans) and paçoca (finely shredded sun-cured meat), in kale or mustard leaves. And with hashi, we stayed within the toothpick-suitable contest rule."
Peixe Frito
Address: Rua Juiz de Fora 1242
Phone: 31-3291-1046
Hours Mon-Fri 6p-12a, Saturday 12p-12a, Sunday 12p-6p
Entry: Meu “Sobrim” Mineiro (My Minas Gerais Nephew)
Doré surubim fillet with Aunt’s sauce.
Pimenta com Cachaça
Comida di Buteco
Address: Rua Camapuã 420
Phone: 31-3087-6822
Hours: Tue-Fri 8a-11p. Saturday and Sunday 12p-10p
Entry: Sol das Gerais (Minas Gerais Sun)
Shredded sun-cured meat covered with onion petals flamed in wine, served with cheese rolls, fried pork rind, biquinho pepper jelly, melon, cachaça and rapadura (unrefined sugar). Presentation format: the Minas Gerais state flag.
