Straight from Minas Gerais or a bit further afield from Argentina or Uruguay. Creamy or in pieces. Straight up or with coconut, prunes among other ingredients. Fact is, whichever way you have it, dulce de leche is a no‐brainer when it comes to choosing dessert. It is unlikely to ever not be a favourite ingredient in the restaurant kitchens in Rio; in fact it’s difficult to find a place that doesn’t have it as an option among the desserts. Churros, pancakes, tarts, cakes, there are just so many different ways to enjoy the versatile delight that is dulce de leche.
The queues in the original in Jardim Botânicjust as much as in the new Barra branch demonstrate the success of this pizzeria. Creative flavours, good ingredients, wood oven baked pizzas are the hallmarks here. And this creativity carries over into the dessert menu. The Delícia Deleite has a crispy pastry coating open in the middle, with a double layer of Argentine dulche de leche, almonds and white belgian chocolate chips (R$29). It is the perfect way to finish.
This traditional dessert parlour is a haven for those that want to buy a delicious tart and celebrate a special date. But if the intention is to grab a quick dessert, have a seat at one of the small tables and ask for the traditional mil folhas de doce de leche (dulce de leche mille‐feuille) with glazed almonds (R$9.90).
This chain has become a case study of succes in Rio. There are 16 branches spread throughout the city specialising in fresh salads and grilled food as well as a variety of seasonal options the change daily. In the desert section of the menu are two options featuring dulce de leche prepared by the chain’s head chef Nanda De Lamare. The petit gateau de doce has a creamy centre and comes accompanied by a scoop of tapioca ice cream (R$20). The other delicious option is the charlote de doce de leite, a tart consisting of layers of biscuit and cream topped off with creamy dulce de leche (R$16 a slice or R$120 for the entire tart).
The creative and talented Chef Pedro Siqueira is in command of this lovely restaurant in Jardim Botânico. Among the starters, his Pão com Ovo à Carbonara e Barriga de Porco is a spectacular take on an Italian classic. After tackling this and other culinary delights on the menu, be sure to try the pão de mel (honey bread) topped with dulce de leche icecream, chocolate flakes, cinammon and melted chocolate (R$24). Truly marvellous.
Address
: Rua Visconde de Carandaí, 43, Jardim Botânico
Phone
: +55 (21) 3284-5377
Schedule:
Sun 12:00 às 17:00, Sun 19:30 às 00:00, Mon 12:00 às 17:00, Mon 19:30 às 00:00, Tue 12:00 às 17:00, Tue 19:30 às 00:00, Wed 12:00 às 17:00, Wed 19:30 às 00:00, Thu 12:00 às 17:00, Thu 19:30 às 00:00, Fri 12:00 às 17:00, Sat 12:30 às 17:00, Sat 19:30 às 01:00
It really is impossible to resist the succulent cuts that leave the grill here as it is one of the best steakhouses in the city. But as with any great meal you need a great dessert to finish. And here the traditional churros that are sold on Rio’s street corners have been elevate to another level. They arrive slender and crispy served with a Martini glass filled with Argentine dulce de leche (R$22.90).