Hey all, been a while. I've been having a (deep, desperate, semi-murderous) hankering for cupim, a beef rarity of brazilian cuisine that comes from the hump of the zebu/brahman cow. And I thought, if anybody in town could help me source some fresh cupim, it'd be someone here. Help? Please? For the good of Chicago-kind?
For those of you who are unfamiliar, cupim is like a wider/rounder ribeye cap with more fat strewn throughout and ontop. It's beyond wonderful. Maybe even a fuller flavor, like a hanger steak? Really tender when cut across the grain and usually served roasted over high heat with sprays of salt water. Ugh, salivating.
I'm going to go further out on a limb here and venture a guess that the unique role played by this fat/muscle cap in Zebus/Brahmans (to acquire moisture and insulate them from harsh drought conditions) somehow plays a role in the uniquely luscious fat found there-- can't say exactly how it's different, but it is.
I know that Brahmans are used by some for breeding stock, but I can't find anybody in the States who could source any retail beef that'd have the cupim. Would love to hear different. !!!