tapioquinhas are thin, crépe-like pancakes, made to order on a cast iron griddle over a hot flame - the use of tapioca to make flatbreads is a tradition dating back to the indigenous people of brazil, who were the first to produce and use tapioca flour.  

rio de janeiro in particular has a strong maritime connection in its street food, and nearly anything that can be caught in the ocean is cooked on the beach, skewered, grilled or even baked in the sand. day and night, fishermen of all disciplines cook their wares fresh, or send out vendors with long skewers of shrimp roasting over iron pots of coals.