From 4 June, you'll find a new family dish on the menu at OASE's Strandtent. Through A Taste of Home, we invite a different Rotterdammer each month to share a dish that reminds them of home. We're kicking things off with Nico van Mechelen Canuto and his mother Fatima, who are sharing their family's Feijoada. As June is the month of Festa Junina, one of Brazil's most beloved celebrations, centred around food, music and togetherness, it felt like the perfect moment to bring a taste of Brazil to OASE.
Fatima is originally from Olinda, in northern Brazil, and also spent many years living in São Paulo. Nico was born in Recife (next door to Olinda) and moved to Rotterdam with his parents when he was just ten months old. His father is Dutch, so in many ways Rotterdam is where most of his life has taken place. Fatima also has a daughter, Marlui, the family's one and only true-born Rotterdammer.
"The most well-known story about feijoada is that it originated on Brazilian plantations. Less expensive cuts of meat were combined with black beans and vegetables to create something nourishing and comforting. And it's exactly that sense of comfort that I recognise in this dish.
When I think of feijoada, I immediately smell garlic, onions, bay leaves and the rich aroma of slowly stewed black beans. I picture my mum in the kitchen, often cooking for hours, with Brazilian bossa nova playing in the background while she sings along.
To me, it feels like home. Like a kiss from your mum on the cheek or when she gently runs her fingers through your hair. As a child and teenager, we went through our share of turbulent times, but food, music and atmosphere always brought warmth into the house. That's what this dish is to me: a memory of love and togetherness, even during complicated times."
"I think this is the dish my mum, my sister and I have shared most often over the years. There's something deeply nostalgic about it. It's a reminder of finding warmth within your family, even when life gets complicated. This dish always brings us back to being together."
"Mainly how to listen, haha. As the eldest child, and through my work, I'm used to organising things and sharing my opinions. But cooking with my mum teaches me to slow down and trust her experience. She simply knows better than I do. Now that I'm a bit older, I can enjoy simply cooking alongside her without feeling the need to take control of everything. Testing the recipe for OASE felt really harmonious because of that."
"More than anything, I hope that when people take their first bite, they automatically say, 'Mmm, lekker.’ I hope they feel warmth. That they enjoy it together and maybe even taste a little bit of love. Ultimately, that's what food has always been for us.
And if anyone would like the recipe, they're always welcome to send me a message."
