Boom with a view: the new Brazil
Brazil's burgeoning economy is giving the country renewed confidence anda taste for the finer things in life
The last time I turned up at Rocka, a beach lounge in a little bay in Búzios, I found not one, but six Michelin-star chefs had taken over my regular spot. French kings of the kitchen lay on white sunloungers sipping mojitos, watching the rhythmic patterns of the waves delight the local surfers soaking up the sun as they waited. Slivers of lobster carpaccio with white truffle oil; soft, pearly white squid swimming in garlic butter and herbs; and delicately chunky ceviche ensued - all delivered on rustic wooden boxes painted a bright turquoise blue.
A laid-back beach restaurant that now draws world-class chefs on their days off, the success of Rocka is symbolic of a new Brazil.
"When we opened three years ago, we would never have dreamed we would be where we are now and it has everything to do with the wave of change that is taking place in Brazil," says owner Santiago Bebbiano. "Brazilians are travelling like never before and returning with greater expectations - but for the first time, they are finding places and things at home that outmatch the best of what's abroad. This is something that has never happened before."
As the effects of Brazil's economic boom continue to develop, one trend that has taken a while to unfold is Brazilians' belief in all things Brazilian. When it comes to the finer things in life, Brazilians have long looked to, and shopped, abroad. Now, the next generation of home-grown entrepreneurs is redefining Brazil's luxury market, stirring up attention both at home and abroad through a unique blend of sophistication with innovation ... while still wearing flip-flops.
Rocka is the place that insiders urge you to visit when you mention Búzios, a chic beach resort a few hours up the coast from Rio. Búzios earned its reputation as Brigitte Bardot's favourite romantic escape and kept it through its myriad stunning coves, emerald curves and sparklingly clear water. In recent years, Búzios has upped its game and grown from a family resort into one of Latin America's most chic beach retreats, where the international elite rent designer villas for the entire season.
"We now have people ringing up from as far away as New York to book a table for dinner months in advance," says Bebbiano's business partner and head chef Gustavo Rinkevich. "While this has a lot to do with the sophistication of Búzios, it is the regeneration of Rio that is driving the change."