The Megasandwich of Brazil
If you’ve been reading Eat Rio for a while, you may remember a post about the air conditioned Big Fresh bus – Frescão. In that post I mention that in Portuguese you can make some words bigger (or just more) by adding ão on the end, so that ‘fresh’ (fresco) becomes big fresh (Frescão!). Well it works with sandwiches too! Feast your eyes on the SANDUICHÃO (sounds like sandwish-OW!):
We got to the party a little late, so most of this monster was already gone, but nevertheless, I hope this gives you an idea of the magnitude of this sandwich(ão).
Have you ever seen such a sandwich? Spectacular isn’t it? I should point out that this is not for solo consumption (you could try, but seriously, I wouldn’t recommend it). I first saw the sanduichão at Eliane’s birthday party and though we arrived late (our default state it seems) it was still massive. And rather strikingly decorated don’t you think?
My food-fascination took over and I managed to hold off the hungry hoards while I took photos from multiple angles.
I was intrigued, and yet no one else seemed particularly interested or impressed with it. They were all more interested in the birthday cake (also a monster!). Anyway, I asked around and was told that sanduichão is a popular party food that Brazilian mums often make for parties. I’m not sure if this is true, but I got the impression that adult Brazilians may feel a little nostalgic about sanduichão – perhaps it brings back happy childhood memories of birthday parties, like the Cheese and Pineapple Hedgehog does for the Brits:
Ahhhh, I get all misty eyed just thinking about the Cheese & Pineapple Hedgehog. Makes me think about Party rings, Fondant Fancies, Frazzles, Iced Gems, Cocktail sausages on sticks, jelly, Cheesy Wotsits and Monster Munch... Happy Birthday Party memories!
OK, back to Brazil. Having satisfied myself that I had enough photos of the monster sandwich, I helped myself to a generous slice. It was good! As you can see there were at least 5 layers – lettuce and mayonnaise, ham, cheese, carrots and sweetcorn, erm, other stuff.
Karin describes it thus: Sanduichão is easy, inexpensive and everyone likes it. Perfect party food then!
If you know a Brazilian living away from home, why not surprise them with this on their birthday? I was going to include a recipe, but seriously, you don’t need me to tell you how to make a massive sandwich do you? Just make a massive sandwich! Then decorate it (my friend Karin tells me that her (lovely) mum, Virginia, decorates sanduichão with a tomato skillfully cut into a rose shaped decoration – I am hoping to see this at the next family birthday party).
If anyone does make a sanduichão, send me a photo and I’ll add it to the bottom of this post! Give it a try, it’ll be fun!
**Update**
My colleague Fabricio tells me that Sanduichão is better known as Torta Salgada Fria (literally translated: Cold Savoury Cake). I still prefer the name Sanduichão, but that’s mostly because I just love putting ão on the end of words…
Oi Tom,
Feliz Ano Novo from storm and gale force 9 London!
I first had one of these on the Bank Holiday for the royal wedding of Will & Kate (a big deal here as I am sure you know). I spent it with Brazilian friends and they made a giant – I mean a giant one complete with the tomato twirled roses and mayonnaise artfully ‘iced’ the top so it was like a huge savory wedding cake! I hate to admit this, but it requires a particular love of mayonnaise which I don’t possess but it was impressive.
Didn’t take a photo but it looked like this:
http://chefemcasapoa.blogspot.com/2011/01/produtos-sob-encomenda-torta-salgada.html
Brazilian exuberance hey?!
bjs
Rebecca
Hey Rebecca! Feliz ano novo! I’ve been hearing tales of people’s assorted items being blown out of their gardens because of all the wind you guys are getting. Hope you managed to keep everything nailed down! Luckily enough I actually do really like mayonnaise, but I should also say that there wasn’t that much on the sanduichão I tried.
I’m going to buy a whole load of tomatoes and start practicing turning them into roses… :)
I am permanently prejudiced against the Sanduichão because my first experience with one was traumatic. It was covered in mayo (without all the veggies on top) and it was dark at the party. I cut a big slice for myself, thinking it was cake, and imagine my surprise when I tasted corn, chicken, and lettuce. BLARGH!
Ha ha ha! That made me laugh (sorry, schadenfreude is a powerful force!). No one likes that kind of food surprise do they?
My MIL made this for my son’s 5th birthday. Said it is very traditional and all Brazilian love it. Honestly, I don’t. I know she makes damn good ones as everyone at my party was impressed but I just don’t dig the sandwich cake thing… Just call me a gringa ;)
Rachel you gringa! You have to like everything Brazilian otherwise they’ll revoke your visa! ;-)
Like my wife-repellent sandwich protector (the uber-salty yeast spread, Marmite) I guess it helps if you’ve had it from an early age. I wonder if your boys liked it? That should be the perfect test of nature vs nurture (i.e. is there a genetic reason that Americans don’t like sanduichão or is it just environmental factors…)
I only recognized the foe when it was called Torta Salgada Fria. I say foe because of the mayo, bleargh. Plus, nor am I a fan of corn WITH lettuce, double bleargh – and an insult to awesome corn. The last time I was offered a slice of evil sanduichão I informed the host that I am not a hamster, nor do I have one at home. Yet I said obrigado nonetheless (just how I roll).
Oh, I hope those aren’t your Havaianas, given the recent flower posts and all :-)
The Havaianas are Mrs Tom’s (she loves it when I call her that). Mine are a very manly shade of dark blue (almost black)! ;)
WOW. That’s got to be interesting….I’ve never seen corn used like that before….
“I’ve never seen corn used like that before…” – Ha ha, as a form of tiling you mean? It does look a little like something out of a 70s cookbook I think, but for me that adds to the retro feel of the whole thing (being a child of the 70s, just)
So, to summarise, you all hate sanduichão! :D
Although the sanduichão has been in our family for countless birthdays, i’ve gotta say Eliane’s is at least 8 times bigger than ours. My mum would be ashamed if she saw people actually put the bread slices together and actually build a much wider sanduichão – how come didn´t she think of this before?!
Ah, that’s good to know Karin. I’d be tempted to make this for a Brazilian’s birthday, but I’m glad it doesn’t have to be quite that big!
Tom, I reckon the sanduichão has potential for some advanced experimentation: real mayo, smoked salmon, soft goats cheese, black and orange fish eggs, red onion, capers, chives, radish ‘flowers’ and curley-whirley spring onion sprays with sourdough ciabatta bread….maybe.
If it fails you could wash it down quite nicely with a caipirinhao – or should it be a caipirinhaao?
Hmmm, I can definitely see potential for what (back home at least) they’d call a Gourmet Sanduichão. I think mixing so many flavours can be tricky, but that combination actually sounds very good to me. And a caipirinhão goes with almost anything!
I have never heard of this name “sanduichão” I just used to call it Torta Salgada. Also never seen it topped with veggies and corn. Odd ! I have made it once here in the Netherlands and the Dutch liked it but didn’t find it superb. ( Well, the Dutch love bread and mayo – they eat French fries (patat) with lots of mayo. Or with peanut sauce, or curry sauce, or ketchup sauce, or pickles and onions or “war”: all the sauces above mentioned together topping their patat). Also mayo with certain fishes (eel, mackerel) …
Btw, I just never used mayo to cover the “torta”. I use “requeijão” and sprinkle it with parmesan flakes. Just like Brasilicana, a Dutch friend of mine thought it was a coconut cake and freaked out !
Funny that you talked about this old fashioned food. So kitsch ! It belongs to the 80’s and should remain there.