IF you thought a Picanha was a nasty flesh-stripping fish from the Amazon then you haven’t been paying attention to Fazenda’s carnivore-centric menu, where it is a prized beef rump cut.
It has a starring role in the procession of 15 meats carved at table for you Rodizio-style at the glamorous Spinningfields restaurnt and good to see it featuring on their new Petisco (Portuguese-style tapas) menu as key constituent of Brazil’s most famous sandwich, the Bauru, alongside cheese, tomato and onion.
Petiscos are a lighter summer alternative to the main one-price set menu, £5.50 apiece small plates that go perfectly out on the terrace with the bar’s 10 new cocktails or indeed a by-the-glass wine from Fazenda’s formidable list.
As the sun came out ToM’s team worked its way through traditional Brazilian snacks such as Pimenta De Cheiro (Padron-style small tangy fried peppers), Pasteis (a duo of honey pork belly and tomato prawn empanadas), bolonho de bacalhaus (salt cod and potato fritters) and, more substantially, Brazil’s splendid national dish, Feiojada combining black beans, rice and sausage (main picture). A perfect stomach-liner for a heavy night ahead!
Smaller sweet options to enjoy are also on offer, such as Brigadeiros (chocolate fudge balls) and chocolate filled Mini Churros. Pick of the new cocktails (we didn’t manage them all)? ‘Cherry on top’ – a martini-style drink mixing El Jimador Reposado. strawberries, pepper and maraschino liqueur; ‘Smoke and Haze’ Mezcal, Green Chartreuse and Aperol.) and the ‘Salvador Sling’, a refreshing blend of Portobello gin, hibiscus syrup and tropical guava.
Fazenda, 1 The Avenue, Manchester M3 3AP. 0161 207 1183.