Today, we’re going to take a look at some cooking vocabulary. 
to cook = cozinhar
dining = gastronomia
cooking = culinária
recipe = receita
cup = copo
teacup = xícara de chá
spoon = colher
soup spoon = colher de sopa
teaspoon = colher de de chá
can = lata
batch/bunch = maço
unit = unidade [example: 3 unidades de ovo means three eggs]
For today’s interactive feature, the question is: What’s your favorite Brazilian restaurant in the U.S.?
Though there are now quite a few excellent Brazilian restaurants in New York, like Porcão and Plataforma, my personal favorite is Fogo do Chão. Fogo has a fantastic meat rodizio and a huge salad bar in a very luxurious setting. I’ve been to the DC branch, but they also have locations throughout the U.S., including Baltimore, Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, amongst others.
What about you?
Churrascarias (steakhouses) are very popular in Brazil, especially rodízios, which are all you can eat, when the waiters bring all kinds of different cuts of meat. But not as many people know that there are other types of rodízio restaurants, including Chinese food, sushi, appetizers, beer, crepes, and pizza. 
So for today’s interactive feature, the question is: What’s your favorite pizza rodízio in Brazil? [or Brazilian-style pizza rodízio in another country]
My favorite is Deck, a somewhat non-descript restaurant overlooking the water in Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro. They have fast, excellent service, and absolutely delicious pizza with interesting toppings, like shrimp, hot dogs, Strogonoff, and bacon. They also have great dessert pizzas, including strawberries and chocolate, white chocolate, caramelized bananas, and brigadeiro.
What about you?
For those who have traveled to Brazil, especially Americans, you will have probably noticed that Brazilian chocolate is excellent. Compared to American chocolate, which is watered down and pumped with chemicals, Brazilian chocolate is much more pure. 
So today’s interactive question is: What is your favorite type of Brazilian chocolate?
I am partial to Garoto, which I think produces some of the most delicious candy bars anywhere. The best way to try Garoto is buying a box of assorted chocolate bars, which you can easily eat in a few sittings. I also love the Garoto milk chocolate hazelnut bar, which is amazing. Batons, which are shaped like lipsticks, are also delicious.
What about you?
Brazil has some of the most amazing juices, smoothies, and drinks in the Americas that you can usually get on every street anywhere in the country. By day, there are fresh coconut waters, tropical fruit juices, and açaí smoothies, and by night, the famous caipirinha and hundreds of locally brewed beers.
So for today’s interactive feature, the question is: what is your favorite Brazilian drink?
This is a very difficult question, since there are so many spectacular fruit juices, and I’m always surprised to find ones made from fruits I’ve never even heard of. I’m a big fan of suco de melão (melon juice) and vitaminas (smoothies made with fruit, sugar, and milk). I also like caipifrutas, caiprinhas made with different tropical fruits instead of limes.
What about you?
