Welcome to my kitchen!

Oi! I’m Camila Ferreira, 38 years old, and I live in the sunny coastal town of Paraty, Brazil. If you’ve never been, imagine cobbled streets, colorful colonial houses, and the smell of fresh pão de queijo wafting through the air. That’s my everyday backdrop, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My life here is a patchwork of sea breeze, samba, and the sizzling rhythm of my kitchen.

My earliest memories are steeped in the sounds of my grandmother’s kitchen the clatter of pots, the hiss of garlic hitting hot oil, and her gentle humming as she stirred a pot of feijoada. She was my first culinary hero. Watching her cook was like watching someone perform magic. She never measured a thing, yet every dish was perfectly seasoned. I still remember the first time she let me help make brigadeiros for a birthday party. My hands were sticky for hours, and I was the happiest kid in the world. It wasn’t just about the food it was about love, tradition, and togetherness.

I didn’t go to a fancy culinary school. Instead, I learned the old-fashioned way through family recipes, community festivals, and countless hours of trial and error. I’ve worked in a few local restaurants over the years, where I picked up professional techniques and learned from other passionate cooks. These kitchens were lively, hot, and full of stories. I watched, listened, made mistakes, and slowly built the confidence to trust my own instincts. Over time, I began developing my own recipes often by reinventing traditional ones with a bit of personal flair.

Eventually, I started hosting cooking classes right in my own kitchen. What began as a casual get-together with a few friends making moqueca and sipping caipirinhas turned into a regular event, drawing curious food lovers from around the world. Some were beginners who had never chopped an onion, while others were seasoned travelers wanting a taste of Brazil beyond the restaurants. I love that mix. It reminds me that food is a universal language one that everyone can speak, even with a heavy accent.

My philosophy is simple: cooking should be joyful, approachable, and a little messy. Don’t worry about being perfect worry about being present. If your rice sticks to the pan or your cake sinks a bit in the middle, so what? Did it taste good? Did it bring people together? Then it was a success. Brazilian cuisine, like its people, is full of warmth and soul. It’s meant to be shared, not perfected.

These days, my mornings start at the local market, where I chat with fishmongers, smell fresh herbs, and let the produce inspire me. I’ve come to believe that recipes should be flexible, like jazz. Some of my best dishes were happy accidents, like the time I added passion fruit to a savory glaze or when a guest suggested adding coconut milk to a lentil stew. I learn as much from my students as they do from me.

In the evenings, my kitchen becomes a gathering place. There’s music playing, wine flowing, and always a story being told. I cook because it brings joy to myself and to others. Whether you’re a home cook, an aspiring foodie, or someone just starting to learn the basics, I’m here to guide you, cheer you on, and laugh with you along the way.

So grab a wooden spoon, take a deep breath, and join me. Let’s get cooking, and let’s make it delicious, soulful, and uniquely yours.