the people of rio are some of the biggest meat-enthusiasts the world over - on average, almost every carioca, no matter their socioeconomic background, will have some form of meat in it, and it is rare to have an entire meal that is 'carne-free' or without meat.

they love to throw 'churrascos', or barbecues, which consists of various cuts of delicious meats, accompanied with a few staple side dishes - 'picanha' is the jewel of all meats, heralded by cariocas as the finest steak, a succulent cut of steak, seasoned with coarse sea salt, and usually cooked medium rare. 

picanha is what all eyes wait for eagerly at barbeques and restaurants alike - these 'churrascarias' are some of the most popular and famous rio establishments, in which a wide variety of meats are brought out and cut at the table of customers.