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A Casa do Porco

São Paulo

• The Best Restaurant in Brazil 2023

Utter pork perfection meets philanthropy

On the Pass

Jefferson and Janaína Rueda

What’s the concept? A carnivore’s idea of heaven, A Casa do Porco is the vision of chefs Jefferson Rueda and Janaína Torres Rueda, showcasing pork, fire and all things butchery. Meaning ‘House of the Pig’ in Portuguese, it’s a true porcine pilgrimage. What’s more, A Casa do Porco receives the title of The Best Restaurant in Brazil for a second year in a row – where all meat is also proudly sourced.

On the menu: The extensive menu is divided into à la carte and the ‘Somos de Carne e Osso’ tasting menu, which explores the full breadth of Brazil’s gastronomy. Enjoy the traditional artisan sausages, cassava croquettes and the slow-roasted pig, delicately cooked for six to nine hours over an open flame. To balance the umami extravaganza, there are also salads, egg dishes, pasta and rice options.

Drinks to pair: Come for the cuisine, stay for the cocktails. The drinks selection is almost as vast as the food menu. Alongside the classics, such as Bloody Mary, Manhattan and iconic Brazilian Caipirinhas, diners can opt for a tereré – a popular bitter tea infusion – or pick from a range of cachaças, bitters and whiskies.

About the chefs: Jefferson Rueda began his culinary career as a butcher before training at the Brazilian branch of the Culinary Institute of America. Known for his stints in world-class restaurant El Celler de Can Roca and Latin American favourite Attimo, he was joined by former partner, Janaína, to open A Casa do Porco. She received the Icon Award 2020 and is this year’s winner of the Latin America’s Best Female Chef Award thanks to her continued efforts to unite the country’s gastronomic community and feed the vulnerable. The pair still run the restaurant together as professional partners.

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