Clarice Lispector at the table

The 20th-century Brazilian table revolves around café da manhã (breakfast, where black coffee reigns), the midday almoço built on the unshakable foundation of arroz-com-feijão (white rice + black beans), café da tarde (sweet afternoon break), and a lighter jantar. On Sundays, feijoada gathers the family. In the Northeast of Clarice's childhood, in Recife, the flavors of the sertão (dried meat, manioc) and sugarcane sweets sold on the street are added.

Two absolute constants: the long-simmered black bean, soul of the daily Brazilian plate, and the strong cafezinho that Clarice drank endlessly while writing and smoking. One nourishes the body, the other keeps watch over the night of writing.