What to eat

• Red meat: The general standard is really good. Picanha, the top piece of the rump, is excellent at most places, and it’s worth going for interesting cuts like asado de tira.

• Dulce de leche is so much better than the caramel you’ll find in SA. Eat as much of it as you can, for breakfast, on your pancakes, with dessert, as a snack… every chance you get!

• Coconut porridge is usually served at breakfast. It’s sweet and delicious, and reminded me a bit of melkkos.

• Cake for breakfast is a thing in Brazil, from chocolate sponge to crème caramel. When in Brazil…

• Cheese puffs are an essential part of every breakfast table. They’re chewy and delicious.

• Broccoli rice may seem boring but it tastes really good, especially served with meat.

• Farofa, a toasted-flour side dish, really adds flavour and texture to a meal. Each restaurant puts its own spin on it.

• Açai bowls: The locals like to order açai berry bowls – basically a thick purple smoothie topped with oatmeal and fruit. I tried it but wasn’t too impressed; it’s mostly just sweet.

• Mortadella sandwich: If you’re at the big market in São Paulo, order a rich, savoury meaty sandwich – it’s the perfect hangover cure.

• Coffee culture hardly exists, even though Brazil is famous for coffee. We had to search to find a notable coffee shop, even in Rio. Cafeina was the one we found.