Coxinhas (little drumsticks) are soft, fried dumplings - filled with savory, shredded chicken and covered with a soft, delectable pastry coated in fine breadcrumbs. They are - by far - my favorite snack-bite in the world.
Coxinhas are so hard to make (see recipe here). They take forever. They take the touch of a seasoned Brazilian housewife, and a recipe that's been handed down for generations but never written down. I'd always considered this a blessing - because I knew that if Coxinhas were always readily available I'd be done for - I love them that much - I'd eat ten a day and gain a pound a day, and well, you do the math.
THEN we moved. Last month. From Lincoln Park to Bucktown. And on our corner, there just so happens to be a Brazilian grocery Store.
Brazil Legal sells everything Brazilian: Guarana', passion fruit juice, pao' de quiejo (the grown-ups Cheeto, frozen an easy last-minute appetizer at home), salt for BBQ marinades, Hawaianas (flip-flops) and every cookie that any kid who's ever been to Brazil has been missing.
Hidden in a secret back room you'll find the real treat: handmade by a local Brazilian ex-pat homechef, fresh Coxinhas. I'm not sure why they're not advertised - nor why they're hidden in the back room (MMmmm...) - it's just one of those things that you need to be 'in the know' about. I always feel like an addict, my mouth salivating as the kindly cashier escorts me to the secret back room for my weekly fix. You can also find them frozen in bags of 12.
I've had to limit my visits to once a week after - after and the scale began reflecting the novelty of it all (hey - I'd never imagine that I'd be lucky enough to have a Brazilian grocery store steps away) and my son, who is half-Brazilian , started calling me a Coxinha-Head .
Brazil Legal
2153 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 772-6650
O Brazil Legal manda encomendas de produtos brasileiros para Peoria, IL? Estou interessado em café e carne de sol, entre outras delícias.
Posted by: Ivan Pinto | August 15, 2007 at 09:21 PM
I'm not sure if they'll ship to Peoria... I would think that you could swing some Brazillian coffee.
Call them!
(773) 772-6650
-nice to have some Portuguese on the website!
Posted by: josh | August 16, 2007 at 09:31 AM
If you like frozen coxinhas, you'll love the fresh ones done at Sinha, a home based Brazilian International restaurant run by Chef Jorgina Pereira. On Sundays from 2-6 pm you can enjoy an authentic Feijoida along with other international dishes on the All You Can Eat buffet for $25 and it is BYOB! Sinha is a favorite of mine because Jorgina cooks with love. She opens her home at 2018 W. Adams only for the Sunday Supper since the rest of the week she is busy with her catering business. Call her for reservations at 312-491-8200 and come empty because there is fabulous food aplenty!
Posted by: Cecilia | October 20, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Hmmm sounds delicious..
Posted by: Ayew | July 21, 2010 at 08:22 AM