CADEG Hosts 3rd Festival de Inverno July 1st to July 24th

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Beginning Friday, July 1st, the Mercado Municipal do Rio de Janeiro – CADEG will host the third edition of the Festival de Inverno (Winter Festival). Continuing through July 24th, the festival features many of the markets restaurants and emporiums offering special dishes and the market’s shops holding special winter promotions.

Additionally during the festival, there will be live music shows, an antique car exhibition, and wine, beer, cheese, and cachaça tastings.

Located in the neighborhood of Benfica in Rio’s Zona Norte (North Zone), the Centro de Abastecimento do Estado da Guanabara, better known as CADEG, is one of Rio’s best off-the-beaten-path tourist destinations for gastronomes and those looking to experience a different side of the city.

Founded over half a century ago and well known as a fruit, vegetable, plant, and flower market, during the past several years CADEG has been hosting culinary festivals to showcase its many restaurants and food vendors spread throughout its three-floors.

CADEG first hosted its Winter Festival in 2014 with participating vendor and emporiums serving up special dishes made with bacalhau (salted cod), lamb, beef, and pork paired with fine wines and carefully selected beers.

Continuing that theme during the upcoming edition, participating restaurants and emporiums will include Bacalhau & Cia, Barsa Restaurante, Bartadella, Brasas Show, Cerealista Lela, Corujão do CADEG, Costelão do CADEG, Donamena, Empório Gourmet Show, Empório Gourmet Restaurante, Empório Gruta São Sebastião, Empório Quintana Buteco, Espaço Maranguape, Espetáculo Restaurante, Sete Marias Steak House, Solo Vivo Orgânicos, and La Parrilla Del Mercado, among others.

Additional partipants during the upcoming edition will include cachaça vendors Armazém da Pinga and Empório Mandacarú; wine vendors Global Wine Importadora, Griffe dos Vinhos, Azeities SErrano de Mirandela, Adrimar Importadora, Mundo dos Vinhos, Olivier Bebidas, and Arte dos Vinhos; and beer vendor Mundo das Cervejas.

Also participating are stores Ki-Sako Materiais de Embalagens, Ralimar, Laticínios Brasil Tropical, and Loaplastic Embalagens; bakery, Santo Gostinho; shoe store Sapataria e Camisaria Feirante; and flower vendors at the J.V. Garden.

Special programming during the festival will include live samba with Tia Surica on July 3rd at 3PM; an antique car exhibition on July 10th from 11AM to 3PM; and a live show with Serjão Loroza on July 24th. Additionally, there will be a special Festival da Cachaça on July 17th with a lecture from 11AM to 12PM and tastings from 12PM to 3PM.

For complete programming, a list of the participants, and additional information, see the CADEG website.

What: 3rd Festival de Inverno do Mercado Municipal do Rio de Janeiro – CADEG
When: July 1st through July 24th, hours of operation vary.
Where: Rua Capitão Félix 110, Benfica, Zona Norte
Entrance: FREE (meal and products prices will vary)