Professional Brazilian Chef Cook and Tell Bahian Culinary Secrets During Cooking Classes

TRANCOSO, BRAZIL - May 2011 - With the rich culinary history of Pataxó Indians and  afro-Bahian culture plus the international influence of yesteryear‚s world traveling hippies who imported the spices of India, an uber-five-star, barefoot luxury accommodation in Trancoso, Brazil, mixes and matches cuisines with the flip of a chef‚s hat.

Under the tutelage of local women or the resort‚s professional chef, UXUA Casa Hotel is staging culinary classes in the comfort of a guest‚s casa or at the hotel‚s restaurant simply called „kitchen.‰  Fresh produce comes from the updated vestige of a garden planted originally by those hippies.

These informal and fun entre nous classes come with insiders‚ takes on both the cuisine and culture of the region.

Classes held in the kitchen create a particular synergy between guests and staff. Guests who choose to cook at home find their private casa equipped with a kitchen. They can take their cooking and cultural exploration one step further by visiting local homes for full immersion experiences. 

Guests of UXUA Casa Hotel enjoy a choice of 10 one-to three-bedroom casas, four dating back to the 16th century when this seaside hamlet was founded by Jesuits. Rates per casa, per night start from $680.

Since it opened in spring 2009, UXUA Casa Hotel (translating to „Marvelous House Hotel‰ in the local Pataxó Indian language) quickly moved into the international must-visit circuit. UXUA (pronounced ooh-shoo-ah) is a tropical utopia offering total privacy with the added comfort of five-star hotel services.  This stunning and unique destination enjoys visits by international celebrities who welcome the slow pace of Trancoso that is well-known by Brazilian socialites and celebs.

The resort is the creation of owner Wilbert Das, former long-time creative director of Italian fashion label Diesel, who realized the project as a tribute to the area of southern Bahia which he loves. He tapped into Colonial, indigenous, and Afro-Bahian histories, arts and customs, and collaborated with local artisans using traditional building methods and recycled materials.

Textiles, art, crafts, furniture and structural fabrications from repurposed woods and scrap iron are sourced locally to create understated barefoot luxury. Flowers, spices and fruits from overgrown gardens grace guest rooms and tables. Menus include the catch of the day with a Bahian flair complimented with a dollop of Mediterranean fusion as well as other regional flavors of this vast country. A selection of international wines and spirits is available along with UXUA‚s inventive list of hundreds of tropical drinks and cocktails.

As a result of Das‚ environmentally and socially progressive vision, the resort is helping preserve the local Atlantic rainforest and marine wildlife through a daily program employing local fisherman, as well as the hotel‚s very active support of local cultural institutions such as Trancoso‚s academy of Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial arts-inspired dance), for which UXUA is the principle sponsor. 

Guests fly into Sao Paolo, Salvador, or Rio, and connect via numerous national and international airlines with multiple direct daily flights to Porto Seguro, where a scenic 45-minute drive through beautiful Bahian landscape brings them to the jewel of the southern Bahian coast, Trancoso and UXUA. 

For additional information on UXUA Casa Hotel, please visit www.uxua.com.  For general reservations please call +55 73 3668-2277 and for general inquiries +55 73 3668-2277. 

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