Brazilian Chefs Surprise the Senses at the United Nations International Food Festival

NEW YORK, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Tourists and New Yorkers are invited to dine on authentic, delicious Brazilian lunches at the United Nations (UN) Delegates Dining Room May 22 - June 2, 2006 from 11:30 - 2:30 daily. Hosted by Embratur, the Brazilian Tourist Board, diners will have the opportunity to sample traditional Brazilian cuisine prepared by four of Brazil's most acclaimed chefs, and experience the tastes, sights and sounds of this country's unique culture. The buffet and dessert is $25 per person, not including gratuities and beverages.

Lunch will feature indigenous Brazilian spices, native fruit selections, delectable meats, and decadent desserts. Each day, guests will choose from various hors d' oeuvres, soups, salads, pastas, fish, shellfish, chicken, beef, and vegetable dishes as well as desserts from the buffet.

Authentic Brazilian foods, rich in color and diversity, will be prepared by well-respected chef ambassadors flown in from Brazil especially for this festival. A few of the tempting, unique dishes served in the exclusive quarters of the UN Delegates Dining Hall include:

  * Fresh grilled pink salmon flambeed with tomato vinaigrette and cachaca,
    a spirit distilled from sugarcane

  * Crepes with chantilly and cagaita sauce filling sprinkled with baru nut
    crunch

  * Fillet mignon stuffed with provolone cheese and cooked ham served with
    a wine sauce

  * Guava paste pie with white cheese sauce

As the chefs prepare native cuisine, diners will experience a trip to the sensations of Brazil. These culinary experts will offer guests a taste of Brazil's diverse culture, the warmth of its people as well a sense of the country's natural beauty. During the week of May 22, chefs Alice Mesquita de Castro and Fabio Sicilia will prepare sensational dishes for the guests.

Alice Mesquita de Castro

Mesquita de Castro hails from the city of Brasilia and is a specialist in Brazilian and French regional cuisine. She was recently named "Best Chef of Brasilia" by Veja Magazine, the leading weekly magazine in Brazil. Mesquita de Castro earned her culinary fame by infusing European influences into the traditional Brazilian dishes she serves at her renowned Restaurante Alice, and will bring this unique gift to the festival's diners.

Fabio Sicilia

Chef Fabio Sicilia received his culinary training in Italy at The Italian Institute for Foreigners and The Italian Gastronomic Society. Sicilia and his famous restaurant, Dom Giuseppe, is well-respected within Brazil's culinary community. Sicilia recently received a nomination for Belem's Best Chef from Veja Magazine, and Dom Giuseppe received acclaim from the same publication as Belem's Best Italian Restaurant. His awards are the result of a unique combination of unsurpassed service and a constant desire to perfect his culinary technique. The UN Food Festival will provide yet another remarkable venue for Sicilia to hone his skills.

Beginning May 29, chefs Dada Aldacy dos Santos and Ivo Faria da Costa will delight diners with their culinary masterpieces.

Dada Aldacy dos Santos

Aldacy dos Santos, known to many simply as Dada, is a brilliant chef from Salvador, Brazil and responsible for a small empire of Brazilian restaurants famous for innovative, original dishes. Dada's latest sensation is a chocolate cake that combines the characteristics of an American-style brownie with traditional brigadeiro, Brazilian chocolate fudge, and covered with cream. This culinary masterpiece is currently considered one of the best desserts in the city of Bahia. New York diners can look forward to experiencing equally decadent dishes by Dada at the International Food Festival.

Ivo Faria da Costa

Ivo Faria da Costa is the owner and creative force behind Vecchio Sogno, an Italian restaurant in the town of Belo Horizonte acknowledged as the "Best Restaurant of Varied Dishes" by Veja Magazine. Faria da Costa consults with a network of the most prestigious chefs in Brazil and internationally to bring new and exciting dishes to Vecchio Sogno and its diners. Chef Faria da Costa will bring his world-class culinary talent and expertise to the people of New York, creating a dining experience that is sure to dazzle the senses.

"Brazil's participation in the United Nations International Food Festival is spearheading a marketing initiative designed to attract more foreign tourists to Brazil and educate them about our fine country," said Eduardo Sanovicz, President of Embratur, "Our commitment to the promotion of the rich diversity and unique influences that define Brazilian culture has resulted in this outstanding culinary event, and we are thrilled to have our acclaimed chefs share Brazilian cuisine with the people of New York."

Business attire is required and all guests must have picture identification to enter the United Nations. Diners should enter at the 46th Street and First Avenue. Reservations are also required by calling 212-963-7625 or 212-963-7626 at least 24 hours in advance.

About Embratur

The mission of the Brazilian Tourist Board, Embratur, is to promote Brazil in the international market as a destination for travelers. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has put a new tourism plan in place, the Aquarela Plan, which calls for generating consumer awareness about Brazil and attracting more tourists. The established target for the U.S. sector is increasing the annual numbers for tourists entering the country to 9 million, and attracting a total amount of $8 billion in revenue.

There are eight Embratur offices globally including Lisbon (Portugal), Paris (France), London (U.K.), Frankfurt (Germany), Madrid (Spain) and Milan (Italy). There is also a Bureau for Tourism for Latin America, based at the Embratur office, in the city of Brasilia.

About the United Nations International Food Festival

The United Nations (UN) International Food Festival is a two-week event during which countries from around the world host the New York public and introduce them to native cuisine, music and entertainment. Chefs from each country fly to New York to prepare the lunch, which is served to the public from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the UN Delegates Dining Room. Tantalizing displays of cuisine and incredible experiences illustrate how the International Food Festival is an ideal way to showcase the celebrated flavors, sounds and traditions of some of the world's most unique and vibrant cultures.