Rooted in the one-pot peasant stews of Spain and Portugal and adapted by Brazil’s plantation workers in the 16th century, feijoada is a stew made of spare parts—a culinary method that turns the more “interesting” cuts into an economic, if time-consuming, meal to satisfy an entire table. Preparing it involves visiting a butcher, or several, to procure the more business-oriented (read: least expensive) parts of a pig: the trotters (feet), tail, and ears. Add some beef tongue, slab bacon, beans, ham hocks, carne seca (sun-dried salted beef), and, if you’re lucky enough to find it, linguiça, a Portuguese sausage whose close cousin is chorizo.
According to Chef Maricel Presilla, the author of Gran Cocina Latina, a bible of Latin American cooking, to speak of feijoada’s origins is to see a world map alight with trade routes and conquests: “North Africa passed through Spain with the Muslims. The dishes they liked were not so different. Historians do not stress the points of intersection enough.” She considers Brazil, where one encounters every gradation of white and black under the sun, even more of a melting pot than America. “In the beginning, the Portuguese treated Brazil as an outpost. Not as a destination. You had men coming in, working the plantations, and bringing their tastes along. The women of the houses would train the slaves to cook Portuguese dishes to feed a crowd. Gradually, their cuisines intermingled,” she says. “The conqueror becomes conquered of the kitchen.”
Because feijoada takes so long to cook, these days it is prepared mostly for celebrations. The salted beef needs an overnight soak. The meat and beans require three hours of stewing. Feijoada is traditionally enjoyed over rice and accompanied by shredded, stir-fried kale, which adds an “herbal astringency,” according to Presilla. The final dish marries spice, smoke, salt, and elements of two different cultures. At last, the various parts become whole. After crafting such a complex yet rustic dish, caipirinhas are always in order.
All the meats were purchased at Paisanos in Brooklyn, NY
Photos by Guillermo Giraldo
Art direction by Marcio Kelmanson
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This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.