By Brazil by Ed Milich
	By Brazil is another local haunt of mine, in the heart of downtown Torrance. It features a great lunch buffet, and a recently renovated interior. It’s South American flavored charm is a welcome addition to Downtown Torrance’s vibe. The lunch buffet is the focal point here, and you can also add the tableside Brazilian Barbecue Charrra service on top of the buffet for an additional charge. Ya know, I just realized that I’ve been in this restaurant about 20 different times and I’ve never even looked at a menu. I always just make a beeline for the buffet. On my first trip to the buffet I usually load up on salad- I usually help myself to a mixed green salad along with marinated onions, green olives and salsa. I always grab a few pieces of cheese bread with every trip to the buffet. These little half dollar sized mini-rolls have a crusty outside and a small blob of gooey cheese inside. They’re a great complement to anything on the menu. The second trip to the buffet, I invariably get down to business. Now it’s time for a big pile of black beans (cooked with sage leaves in full view) and white rice. To this, I add chicken stroganoff, and/or Brazilian Beef, which is large beef chunks cooked with potatoes, & onions. The beef appears to be slow cooked. It’s just to the point of falling apart, and it’s very good. I usually have to trim some fat off of it, but no big deal. I throw a few friend plantains on the side of my plate while I’m at the buffet as well. On the few times that I have splurged for the full treatment at By Brazil, the barbecue has been wonderful. Your server will continue to approach you with a variety of fire-roasted meats until you turn your little bobbin over.  The beef, pork, sausage, and similar meats that are presented to you are cooked over an open fire on a spit in the back of the restaurant, before your eyes. It’s a nice, slightly alien analog to the American style of barbecue. I can usually get three good trips to the buffet before I begin to swoon from over consumption…More favorites include the vegetable casserole. It’s also nice to try some the Yucca flour grain dish. It tastes a little like sawdust by itself, but it invariably ends up getting mixed up with my beef or chicken. I think that this may be the ideal way to consume it, despite what tradition might dictate. Make sure that you get some fried plantains and some more cheese bread at each trip! I always do. The buffet is around $10 or around $15 with the Barbecue. By Brazil is a great destination that makes for a welcome break from the typical lunch offerings.
	By Brazil 1615 Cabrillo Ave Torrance, CA 90501 (310) 787-7520