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 It is no longer a surprise to find Brazilian groceries in stores all over the world. Chá Mate can be found in Russia, cachaça not only is found in Germany and other countries, but in New York many bars now serve the very Brazilian caipirinha drink. In Japan today, one can even find manioc flour.
Foods that have been processed in Brazil alone sold over US$ 20 billion in 2005, 18% more than in 2004 according to the Brazilian Association of Processed Foods (Abia) Sadia, Brazil's largest food processing company has closed a partnership contract with the Russian group Miratorg, to build a factory in Russia. It will be the first Sadia unity to be built outside of Brazil, in a place not yet disclosed. Miratorg is a distributor of meets and a long time client of Sadia. The total investment is estimated in US$ 70 million, according to Sadia's release to Bovespa, in São Paulo. Processed foods will be industrialized at the plant aiming the Russian internal market. Last year the Brazilian company registered a profit of 653.7 million reais, 50% more than the year before. Despite the growing numbers, the company has informed that the bird flu should lessen the export of chicken for 2006. Golden Apple New York City's Health Department announced that Brazilian Churrascaria Plataforma has been granted the Golden Apple award for the second year in a row. The awards were created to stimulate with recognition restaurants and other eating establishments which maintain excellent food safety practices. All the awardees will be able to exhibit the certificate issued by the Department, as well as a door decal indicating that the establishment is a "Golden Apple." The City of New York is investing in safety and cleanliness in the establishments, a very important program that will stimulate professionals of the field to invest in education and information of their staff. Churrascaria Plataforma has always been known not only for the excellent food it offers, but also for the quality of service and the cleanliness of its kitchen and facilities as a whole. So it was not a surprise for one of the owners, João de Matos and regular customers of the Brazilian restaurant. Matos told the press that "The Golden Apple initiative is a fantastic program, and we accept the award not for our restaurant, but for our customers." Matos also said, "there cannot be a better feeling than knowing you are eating in one of the cleanest restaurants in the city." And he went on to congratulate manager Jean Frison and his crew for their hard work Matos also said that "there has always been a feeling of family here, and the Golden Apple is the end result." New Yorkers and visitors of the city will look for the Golden Apple door decal, as they now do with the places chosen by Zagat. "People look for quality of the food, but they also look for their safety and health. Churrascaria Plataforma is proud to exhibit the second Golden Apple and plans on keeping it," added João de Matos. Sônia Muniz de Carvalho The waves of radio broadcasting have been taking the Metropolitan's opera season throughout the world for years, reaching a total of 42 countries. It took pianist Sônia Muniz de Carvalho, widower of Brazilian great conductor Eleazar de Carvalho, to lead negotiations that ended with Brazil as the first Latin American country to broadcast opera, back in October of 1998. Now six Latin American countries are part of the international broadcasting. Sônia flies from São Paulo to New York to comment productions and performances, to interview singers and directors, talk about the audience's reactions and whatever comes to her restless mind. There is not much of a Brazilian presence at the Met. The only Brazilian singer who made history there was the soprano Bidu Sayão, who was part of The Met's regular cast in the 1940s. Much later, Neide Thomas sang The Queen of Night just for one day. Sônia does not get paid for this job, but at every opera season, the loyal musician flies to New York at her own expenses, to make sure that The Met's program reaches Brazil, through Radio Cultura FM in São Paulo. Bravo! Unforgettable "Iracema" José de Alencar, considered the father of Brazilian novel, is one of the three writers featured in the latest issue of the series Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism (NCLC), 2006. Created in 1981 by Thomson Gale editors, the collection is dedicated to writers and thinkers who died between 1800 and 1899. Side by side with Herman Melville and Arthur Shopenhauer, Alencar received a flattering introduction and essays about his work written in different countries from 1886 to 2001. And, of course, his unforgettable "Iracema." Gil & Zeca Gilberto Gil and Zeca Pagodinho have been throwing flowers on each other for some time. Gil did a CD and paid a tribute to the popular samba-pagode king and now Zeca has a new CD out dedicated to Gil. And this is not all. The duo just recorded together the samba "Balé de Berlim," which Gil wrote for the 2006 World Cup in that city. A hit even before it reaches the stores. Spaniard Beau Conquers Brazil Antonio Banderas will star Brazilian director Andrucha Waddington's new film, "O Conquistador" (The Conqueror) about the Spaniard explorer Hernán Cortez. The estimated budget for the new production is 40 million dollars. Waddington's last film, "House of Sand," did very well in Canada, Europe and in the US. Banderas will also star a Brazilian-American production playing Garibaldi. His lover will be played by Marina Mantega, who is the daughter of Brazil's Finance Minister, Guido Mantega. Rio's Port: New Life in Sight Criticized by Cariocas for having abandoned Rio de Janeiro, President Lula da Silva announced the revitalization of the sea port area, with an estimated cost of over 3 billion reais, around 1.5 billion dollars. With the project, the area will become another marvellous spot of the City of Marvel. The good sides of presidential election years cannot be denied. Petrobras Rises Brazilian giant Petrobras established a goal few years ago to invest more in energy, not only as part of the diversity of interests pursed by the company, as for spreading its tentacles and making more profits. Petrobras Distributor is investing in 13 hydroelectrical power-generating plants, with construction having started in March. Together, these small plants will generate enough power for 5 million people. Last year Petrobras exported US$ 9 billion in oil and derivatives, US$ 3.35 billion more than in 2004, and almost twice as much as 2003. In 2006, Petrobras is expected to export even more and to import much less, with surplus balance. The projection today is for a positive balance of US$ 2.9 billion. Petrobras is investing in education. With a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, the Brazilian giant will spend 178 millions reais in educational material and elective courses on the oil industry, natural gas and energy. 45,842 public schools throughout the country will receive the benefit. The goal is to awaken some 14 million high school students' interest for this area of the economy. The idea was born after the state run company did a research that previews the need for over 70,000 new professionals in two years for 150 different job areas. and more... * The Christ in Rio de Janeiro is the Brazilian candidate in the election that will indicate the new seven world wonders. According to Brazilian authorities, 5 million votes can elect the Christ among 21 others that include the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids, the Coliseum, the Kremlin and the Eiffel Tower. Anyone can vote, so get busy and click: www.n7w.com * Cidade dos homens" (City of Men), a Brazilian Globo TV show, airs every Tuesday in the US with English subtitles, on Sundance Channel. * Méditerranée chain of hotels is building a resort on the border line of Búzios and Cabo Frio. Construction work will start in November and the spending is estimated in 46 million reais. And it is not only the Club Med to hit that spot blessed by God. Club Breezes and Orient-Express have announced new hotels in the area before 2008. * President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enjoyed being with the British royal family so much that he is already booked for another royal visit. This time Queen Margareth II of Denmark. The Danish seem fascinated by Brazil and the queen's husband was in Rio for Carnaval this year. * Ipanema (not the girls, the boys!) came in first. Corcovado in second. Third? No, not the Sugar Loaf or Lapa, but Le Boy club. According to research by professor Bayard Boiteux for the school of tourism of a university in Rio, the above are the most visited places by gay tourists who went to Rio for Carnaval. In the same research, done with 700 tourists: 55% have higher education, 30% complimented the charm and lack of prejudice of Carioca men and the best number: 97% plan to return. * Five Brazilian banks are among the companies with the highest profits in Brazil in 2005: Bradesco, Itaú, Banco do Brasil, Banespa and Unibanco. 100 dollars will bring more profit to a Brazilian bank than in the USA. Brazilian Itaú will add 36.7, while American Citigroup, 22.2. Bradesco had a profit of 5.5 billion reais, the biggest registered in the history of Latin American banks. No wonder banks are very happy with President Lula. Very happy indeed. * Brazil plants 6 million hectares of sugarcane today, an area approximately the size of three states of Rhode Island. According to experts, in the next 8 years, it will need to add 3 million more to reach the increasing demand. Clara Angelica Porto is a Brazilian bilingual journalist living in New York. She went to school in Brazil and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Clara is presently working as the English writer for The Brasilians, a monthly newspaper in Manhattan. Comments welcome at clara.angelica@gmail.com.
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