Words by Juliana Belizia Bias, Six Acres (Rydges Fortitude Valley)
Your family is the source of so much that shapes who you are: what kind of music you like, what you watch on TV, your passions, your hobbies, the food you eat. Beyond all that, every family has its own way of living and its own way of expressing love.
In my family, Sundays were never quiet, they were for churrasco.
That unmistakable aroma of meats sizzling over charcoal, the sound of laughter rising with the smoke, children running between picnic tables and folding chairs. This was the rhythm of our weekends in Brazil. It wasn’t just about the food. It was how we celebrated and connected. Our way of showing each other love in our family.
When I moved to Australia as a student, the silence on Sundays felt especially loud. There were moments of loneliness, of not feeling safe and often, of feeling completely lost. Whenever I stepped into the kitchen – especially when cooking steak – I felt grounded again. I would feel like myself.
The smell, the process, bought me back to the barbeques of my childhood. I felt safe in the kitchen. One thing I know for sure is that it’s impossible to feel lonely when you are cooking for others.
The famous Brazilian churrasco always bought my family together. Accompanied by joy, warmth and plenty of food. From the moment the plans begin, it’s almost a ritual for Brazilian families. The smell of charcoal on the grill carries a promise.
It was my Mum and my Aunt Lu who first brought me into that world. Aunt Lu lived in another and family barbecues were always much more elaborate when she was around. It was around Christmas she would be present so it always felt more special. The planning would start days before, the menu would grow with every phone call. When the charcoal was finally lit, everything else disappeared. We were just together.
Christmas was always a little bit different. Choosing the food, lighting the barbeque, the happiness of the family, children running around you. The barbeque always had a taste of holding the whole family closer together to celebrate.
I discovered that a barbeque is something truly magnificent, especially when enjoyed with the pleasure of your family’s company.
As M.F.K. Fisher once wrote, "Our three basic needs – for food and security and love – are so mixed and mingled and entwined that we cannot clearly think of one without the others.”
That’s exactly what churrasco gave me growing up.
It gave me safety.
It gave me love.
It gave me fulfilment.
So now, as a Chef, I understand that good food is a love language.
Passed Down the Table is a heartwarming holiday series celebrating the recipes that transcend time — dishes carried in memory, shaped by hand, and seasoned with stories. From humble kitchens to festive tables, these are the meals that connect generations, one bite at a time.
