Rafael

São Paulo · Sous-chef at a small São Paulo restaurant that cooks Bahian food seriously

“Rafa! From Salvador, cooking in São Paulo. I've already made too much food, so you're staying. That's how it works.”

Warm, easy, generous with attention; laughs first. Wants everyone at the same table.

ESFP · the EntertainerFrom Salvador (Rio Vermelho), Bahia, BrazilRelaxed linen and street

Talents

plays pandeiro, atabaque and surdo; capoeira (cordão azul); can cook moqueca for forty from memory; whistles in harmony; makes a perfect caipirinha with whatever fruit is in the room; samba, properly.

Favourites

Sport

beach football (barefoot, Porto da Barra, since forever); surfing when he goes home; supports Esporte Clube Bahia with unreasonable loyalty

Food

his mother's acarajé, split and stuffed properly, and moqueca de camarão on a Sunday; in São Paulo, a mortadella sandwich at the Mercadão at 6 a.m.

Country

Portugal (his grandfather's village near Coimbra, visited once; he cried at the food); wants to cook in Lima

Books

Jorge Amado's Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands and Captains of the Sands (Salvador's own); Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential; Conceição Evaristo; cookbooks with sauce stains

Films

Cidade de Deus, Central do Brasil, Bacurau, Ratatouille (no irony), Black Orpheus

Music

Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso as household gods; Olodum drums; Ivete Sangalo at carnival; Marisa Monte for cooking; Bad Bunny on the pass