AlwaysTraveling: Pizza à Bessa (Brasília, Brazil)

Arthur Bovino — August 25, 2009

Left, ‘Calabresa’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Sausage, Olives, Onions, Oregano and Crispy Garlic.). Center, Sausage, Corn and Potato Sticks. Right, Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella and Potato Sticks.

Restaurant: Pizza à Bessa (view site)
Address: SCLS Quadra 214, Bloco C, Loja 14, Setor Comércio Local Sul, Brasília, Brazil‎ (view map)
AlwaysHungry Grade: A-
AlwaysHungry Recommends: Rodizio.

Brazilian cuisine is known for the seemingly endless meat offerings that are served rodizio-style (unlimited food at a fixed price) at its renowned churrascarias. But it’s not the only cuisine in Brazil served in this style. In many places, rodizio has been adapted to one of the country’s favorite cheap snacks, pizza. In Brasília, the country’s Epcot-like capital, Pizza à Bessa is the pizza spot.

 

An open airy setting for Pizza à Bessa in Brasília’s Asa Sul (South Wing).

There are two Pizza à Bessa locations. The branch that opened in Asa Sul in June, 2006, is in an area with other good restaurant options. Settle in, R$19.70 (about $11) gets you as many slices as it’s possible to stomach. It’s half-price for children five to nine and free for anyone younger.

Waiters fly from the kitchen and do circuits around the dining room, each one carrying a tray with a different type of pizza. You’ll frequently find yourself with three different slices on your plate. When it comes to getting your money’s worth, as at any rodizio, pacing is key. But part of the fun (besides downing caipirinhas with your pizza) is the two-fold food challenge you face: 1) seeing how many slices you can eat 2) attempting to sample each of the thirty to forty different kinds of pizza.

Pizza à Bessa serves conventional pizza, but Brazilians use all kinds of unexpected ingredients— at any one point your plate is likely to resemble a Midwestern potluck. Some toppings you’ll find include: Carne de Sol, Catupiry (Brazilian cream cheese), Mustard, Purê de Batatas (Mashed Potatoes), Corn, Tuna, Cassava and Potato Sticks. Purists, be warned, while the menu says that many slices feature tomato sauce (molho de tomate) its application is light. The best slices tend to be the ones featuring very creamy Brazilian cheese and enjoying the experience is mostly about the novelty of unexpected textures and combinations.

There are also a number of incredibly sweet dessert pizzas: Sorvete e Calda de Chocolate (Ice cream and Chocolate Syrup), Maçã (Apple), and Mel (Honey) among others.

The slice count on our vist: 25

 

Left, ‘Purê de Batatas’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Mashed Potatoes and Oregano). Right, ‘Calabresa.’

 

Left, plain. Center, ‘Bacon con Milho’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Bacon, Corn & Oegano). Right, ‘Margherita’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Chopped Tomato, Oregano and Basil).

 

Left, ‘Carne de Sol’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Carne de Sol, Catupiry, Onion, Parmesan, Crispy Onion and Oregano). Center. ‘Tomate Seco’ (Sundried Tomato). Right, ‘Margherita Especial’ (Tomato Sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, Sliced Cherry Tomatoes and Basil) and Caipirinha.

 

Left, ‘Calabrese.’ Center, ‘Milho’ (Corn). Right, ‘Frango’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Catupiry, Shredded Chicken and Oregano).

 

Left, ‘Dijon.’ Center, ‘Calabrese.’ Right, ‘Pizza à Modo de Chef’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozarella, Canadian Bacon, Mushrooms, Catupiry and Oregano).

 

Left, ‘Quatro Formaggi’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozarella, Gorgonzola, Provole, Parmesan and Oregano). Right, ‘Americana’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Ham, Catupiry, Onion and Oregano).

 

Left, ‘Dijon’ (Cream, Mashed Potatoes, Mozzarella, Onion, Sausage and Mustard). Right, ‘Rúcula’ (Tomato Sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella, Oregano, Arugula and Sundried Tomato).

 

‘Portuguesa’ (Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Eggs, Ham, Pepper, Onion, Olive and Oregano).

 

Guava Purée.

 

Left, Maçã do Amor (Mozzarella, Honey & Apple Slices). Right, Bananita c/Sorvete (Mozzarella, Caramel, Banana slices, Cinnamon, Ice cream & Chocolate Sauce).