MuQueCa (Boston)

MuQueCa is a tribute to the scrumptious northeastern Brazilian cuisine, a fusion the cuisines of West Africa, Portuguese African, Europe, and Native Brazilian. It is located near Inman Square in Cambridge (yes, I know, Cambridge and Boston are different cities).

The main dish at MuQueCa is of course, moqueca which is a fish or seafood stew. In the more famous baiana version, the stew includes coconut milk and palm oil. Most moquecas here are served capixaba style (from the state of Espirito Santo) where the latter two ingredients are not present. Diners can chose to have fish only, or mix and match with a variety of seafood. The perfect side is pirão, which is much like a less solid polenta, except you use mandioc flour and fish or seafood broth. You may also want to try the Bobó de Camarão, a creamy shrimp dish that could remind you of South East Asian curries as it often served with white rice. The menu also offers whole fried fish, coconut shrimp and a variety of meat and poultry if you're not feeling like seafood. Meals at MuQueCa are richly seasoned, not too spicy/hot, and very flavorful.

Moquecas are generous meals, so come hungry or come ready to share!

Confluence of Epicures

It started with my friend and I planning to grab dinner to catch up. I wanted to check out restaurants participating in Boston's restaurant week and she suggested an obscure little social club where "[eritrean] food is only served to members and their friends" and members toil around watching TV, chatting and playing foosball, pool or cards. Without much hesitation, I obliged.

Then there was the roommate who was attending a lecture on String Theory at Harvard and really wanted to come when she found out about our plans. And with her, the scientist friend who develops pharmaceuticals with medical effects similar to those of Cannabis. Per chance, walking down the street, my friend from undergrad who is now a String Theorist at Harvard. And finally, one of our character's boyfriend, an entrepreneur-negotiator-capoeira fighter.

After some shenanigans to get to our destination, and a cast of very hungry characters, we arrived and sat ourselves on some chairs and sofas around a table normally found in living rooms. No menu, you just need to say what you'll drink and how many people in the party. The boyfriend suggested honey wine and was that a delight! A very crisp, light and sweet beverage that anybody could mistake for an innocuous infantile beverage. Be careful, this one can get you drunk fast.

Our lovely hosts cooked everything from scratch. It took an hour to prepare the meal for all of us. And, let me tell you, it was a feast! We had a meal similar to an Ethiopian meal; a variety of richly stewed meats and vegetables, eaten by picking up pieces with your fingers and Injera (the foamy, yeasty, pancake-like bread). Wow.