Finding Brazilian delights

Bite on the Go offers more than you imagine.

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The perks of living on Martha’s Vineyard go far beyond beautiful beaches, cute little towns, and the tight-knit community. Our little population has a whole lot of diversity too. The richness of our culture can be largely attributed to the Island’s Brazilian community. One of my best friends is from Brazil, and you cannot take more than three steps into her home without either being handed some of the best food you have eaten in a long time, or becoming so intoxicated by the smell of whatever is in her oven that you just have to stay a little longer than planned. You can imagine my excitement to be able to review one of the most popular Brazilian food spots on the Island.

Bite on the Go is truly a diamond in the rough. Sure, I might not associate good food with a gas station, but this place has officially taken that stigma away forever. The second you walk in the door you are greeted by the aroma of fruits and vegetables, succulent meats, enticing baked goods, and fresh brewed coffee. My taste buds led me right to the buffet, but my eyes wandered to the bright dining room with giant windows looking out over the water. I felt like I had cheated myself all these years by just stopping by to fill up my gas tank, and bypassing the wonderful dining experience only a few steps away.

My mantra, while putting together my plate from the buffet, was to make up for time lost by not having given Bite on the Go a try until now. I started with the fundamentals: rice and pinto beans. Next, I took a heaping scoop of Feijão tropeiro, which is made with beans, bacon, sausage, collard greens, eggs, and manioc flour, and it tastes like a Brazilian version of stuffing. I decided the roasted chicken drumsticks and pork ribs would satisfy my carnivorous cravings, and with that I was on to the cold portion of the buffet. Salpicao caught my eye and triggered my memory, so I repositioned the food in my to-go container strategically enough to fit a little bit more. I have never been a fan of mayonnaise-based salads of any kind, but Salpicao is an exception that I am more than willing to make. The salad is composed of shredded chicken, chopped carrots, celery, peas, olives, apples, and lime juice. It is packed with enough fresh and unique flavor that the mayonnaise just moistens and ties together the dish beautifully. The light at the end of my delightful journey through the buffet, with increasingly heavy to-go container, was the fresh chopped watermelon and cucumber. Who could say no to such bright flavor at the end of a heavy meal in the middle of a dismal winter?

I finally made it to the register, and then I saw the brigadeiro assortment. This Brazilian dessert is traditionally made with condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter, and chocolate sprinkles. I decided to go with a traditional chocolate, a peanut, a vanilla, and a chocolate vanilla twist. These melt-in-your-mouth bites are comparable to truffles, and I’ll warn you, they are addictive.

The inability to actually close my container of food, mixed with the lovely sunlight shining through the windows of the dining room, led me to the decision to dine onsite. I picked up a roasted chicken drumstick, and the meat literally started to fall off the bone. This is always a good sign. The pork ribs were equally as tender, and full of that familiar and delicious salty Brazilian spice. The rice was cooked perfectly, and the beans were anything but bland. I cooled my palate with a piece of surprisingly delicious watermelon, considering the time of year, and decided to save the rest of my food for dinner.

For every last crumb of all that I described, I only paid $7.99 a pound at the buffet, $1.99 per brigadeiro, and $1.68 for the coffee. I couldn’t believe it, I wanted to hug the cashier.

I appeased both my lunch and dinner hunger with Bite on the Go cuisine, and I couldn’t have been more satisfied. I noticed that they advertise catering, and their dining room is most definitely fit to be an event space as well. Do yourself a favor, and take advantage of all that this little gem has to offer. Whether you stop in for a morning coffee, an afternoon snack, a full-blown dinner, or even just a brigadeiro or two while you fill up your gas tank, it is worth it to walk in the door.

Bite on the Go, 86 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven. Open Monday through Saturday, 7 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, 7 am to 6 pm. 508-684-8257, biteonthego.com.