100 dicas Rio de Janeiro / 100 Slow Food Tips - Slow Food Brasil

DICAS SUSTENTÁVEIS
SUSTAINABLE TIPS 117
Nestling among the trees in the Parque Nacional da Tijuca, considered
one of the largest urban forests in the world, Vale Encantado is one of
the smallest and possibly most isolated neighborhoods in the Alto da
Boa Vista. Now with a population of 300 inhabitants, it sprang up more
than 80 years ago when immigrant farmers arrived here. The second
source of employment used to be granite mining, which proceeded
until the 1990s, with devastating consequences for the environment.
To compensate for the lack of state support, the locals decided to
organize themselves into a Residents' Association. In 2006 ithe
association became a cooperative whose aim was to generate income,
limit residential building, protect the environment and improve the
quality of life of its residents. Taking advantage of the natural beauty
of the area, it works with ecotourist initiatives and organizes guided
walks through the forest, which include buffet-style meals made from
produce grown in the locals' egetable gardens and in the forest itself.
The establishment is open to tourists and regular visitors to the Alto da
Boa Vista. The interesting menu features: salada de jacalhau (breadfruit
salad), pastel de taioba (taro root pie), geléia de chuchu com pimenta
(chayotee jam with pepper), suco de chayotee com hortelã (chayotee
juice with mint), suco de maracujá com couve (passion fruit juice with
kale) and other specialities prepared by the Cooperative women.
Estrada da Paz – Travessa Vale Encantado, 2. Alto da Boa Vista
Tel: (21) 2493-3920 / 9809-0388 - contato@valeencantado.org.br
www.valeencantado.org.br