They say great food can transport you anywhere in the world in just a mouthful. Last week I travelled an hour up the road from Dubai to the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sat with a sea view at Pura Vida — the Hilton Resort and Spa, Ras Al Khaimah's Brazilian gem — I rather too obviously salivated as waiter after waiter passed by with giant chunks of perfectly-cooked meat on the most substantial-sized skewers you'll ever see.
"Churrasco," said a voice from across the room. "It's the only option," he added, his friendly laugh filling the room.
Introducing himself as the head chef of the warm and cosy restaurant, it didn't take long to understand the reason for the growing success of this impressive steak house is chef Igor Meyer Erkoff. Not because the service is impeccable — which it is, by the way, and annoyingly so (a waiter noticed I dropped salsa on my dress and wiped it off before I'd even realised). Not because of its picturesque beach location. But because Erkoff cooks from the heart.
"It used to be a Mexican restaurant, but they asked me to come and try Brazilian. It's easy. It's where I'm from, my heart, my soul, my homeland.
"It's food I grew up eating cooked the way my mother would. Sure, it's served in a fancy location, but the flavours and feel of this food is just as it is in my home country and that's important to me."
Variety of meats
To be honest, I was sold from here on in, you just couldn't help but love this man. Luckily for Erkoff no restraining order was necessary as the food soon became my focus. My only focus.
Churrasco is the Brazilian term for a barbecue. It contains a variety of meats which are usually cooked on a purpose-built churrasqueira — a barbecue grill with supports for spits or skewers. A sumptuous selection (it's unlimited, so take your time) of meat arrives at the table on said skewers and is carved over your plate. Your job is simply to say "when".
Picanha rump cap steak, fraldinha beef skirt, maminha trip-tip, Alcatra top sirloin butt — don't worry about the cuts, take my word for it: each and every mouthful is indescribable. And it just keeps coming. That is, until you turn over a small cylindrical wooden peg — one half red, the other green — which is your only saving grace. When you're done, flip it to red and the meat stops coming.
Or... flip it back to green after a rest and get stuck in again.
The churrasco (Dh195) also includes endless starters of homemade nachos with melted cheese served with sour cream, salsa, guacamole and garlic bread served with egg plant antipasti, carret de cordeiro lamb chops, pernil de cordeiro lamb leg, asinha de frango chicken wings, sobre coxa desossada chicken thighs and as much mash potato, corn, kidney beans, fried banana and chimichuri as you can manage.
Oh, and then there's dessert. Good luck with that.
The a la carte menu is just as extensive, but if you truly want an all-encompassing Brazilian experience, it has to be churrasco all the way.
If you're planning an escape from Dubai this summer, my advice is drive the 45 minutes to Pura Vida, Rio, Brazil. It's a journey worth taking.
PURA VIDA
Where: Hilton Resort and Spa, Ras Al KhaimahCall: 07-2288844
Must-have: The chicken wings may be the best I've ever had.
Ambiance: Warm, cosy and friendly with a serving of fine-dining on the side.
