It is a cool, crisp, summer night; people are dancing in the street to performers whose names they do not know, and a large woman who has been laboring all day behind a street vendor hands you a spicy Acarajé—everything stops. Suddenly, you are introduced to a combination of flavors and spices that you never realized could exist together until this very moment: ripe onion, fresh shrimp, strong spices all put together in a small, palm sized ball of deep-fried perfection. This is only one of many delicious foods that come out of the lively state of Bahia, Brazil. Bahia is a sort of melting pot; Not only does it have a variety of cultures present, but it also boasts a plethora of biomes, namely, the Amazon/coastal forests and the dry savanna. It is these unique diversities that are illustrated during each bite of Brazilian cuisine. The combination of cultures and climates that compose and influence dishes like Acarajé operate as a microcosm for the overarching lifestyle of Brazilians: hard work with great reward.

Bahia’s unique region has a few different biomes, and a world-renowned chef, Alex Attalla, made it his mission to explore and use ingredients from the vast forest that is the Amazon. He realized that no matter where you go and what you are cooking, there is a circle of life as well as a process that goes into making each and every dish. All combinations or chemical equations have different variables and can go in many different directions; because of this, it became important to him to utilize every aspect of products, whether that be a banana or a large fish.

Another part of the state is the coast. Fishing is a growing economy in Brazil as a whole, but certainly local fishermen of Bahia provide copious amounts of seafood for the vendors and locals throughout the state. The difference from a Bahian fisherman though, is that these men fish by hand. They have a line and a hook at the end and just use those simple tools and their hands to get the fish. It certainly can be a grueling process; All this hard work, from hunting deep into the amazon forest to fishing off the coast of Bahia, Brazilians show off a value they hold close to their heart: putting in the work for their food.

After all the hard work that got put into harvesting, the resilient Brazilians now have the opportunity to dine; Brazilians love gathering round table and consuming the copious amounts of cooked cuisine. Oftentimes, after a meal, or during, Bahians will hit the town and begin the energetic nightlife. The nightlife can contain many different activities because Bahian culture has various aspects. These aspects include Afro-Brazilian cultures as well as Portuguese.

The geography of Brazil, the historical background, the lifestyle, or the cooking, all add value to their food. All these ideas give the cuisine its heart and soul. It would not be the same if any of these influencers were different. The geography creates certain ingredients. The cultural/historical background creates a foundation for the current lifestyle. And the cooking creates the amazing Bahian, Brazilian cuisine. What are you waiting for? Go ahead, be Bahia bound.